REVIEW AND APPROVALS
TETLIN NATIONAL WILDLIFE REFUGE
Tok, Alaska
ANNUAL NARRATIVE REPORT
Calendar Year 1992
DATE:*-?)11 Refuge Manager c;-P/e vt1/(_ c~ AssoCfate Manager, Refuges & Wildlife
Regional Office Approval TETLIN NATIONAL WILDLIFE REFUGE P.O. Box 779 Tok, Alaska 99780
ANNUAL NARRATIVE REPORT
Calendar Year 1992
U.S. Department of the Interior Fish and Wildlife Service NATIONAL WILDLIFE REFUGE SYSTEM )
Tetlin National Wildlife Refuge has an active biological program. This is one of the ten lynx (Ft>lis lynx) fitted with a radio collar on the refuge in the second year of a three year study on mortality factors, home range characteristics and habitat preferences of lynx. TNWR-1, HKT.
) I )
The population of Trumpeter Swans on Tetlin Refuge has been expanding over the past several years, thanks in part to a favorable weather trend which has benefitted breeding success. TNWR-2, CJP.
) I INTRODUCTION
The Tetlin National Wildlife Refuge was established on December 2, 1980 when Congress enacted Public Law 96-487, the Alaska National Interest Lands Conservation Act (ANILCA). The Tetlin Refuge is one of 486 refuges within the National Wildlife Refuge System and like all others is managed primarily to perpetuate and preserve it's outstanding wildlife values.
According to ANILCA, the purposes for which the Tetlin Refuge was established are: 1) to conserve fish and wildlife populations and habitats in their natural diversity, 2) to fulfill international treaty obligations of the United States with respect to fish and wildlife, 3) to provide for continued subsistence uses by local residents that are consistent with the above mentioned purposes, 4) to ensure, to the maximum extent practical, water quality and necessary water quantity within the refuge, and 5) to provide, in a manner consistent with 1) and 2), opportunities for interpretation and environmental education.
The 700,000 acre Tetlin Refuge is located in the upper Tanana River Valley of east central Alaska. It is adjacent to the Yukon Territory border, directly south of the Alaskan Highway and north of the Wrangell Mountain Range. Major physical land features include broad flat river valleys bisected by rolling hills, extensive wetland and lake complexes, foothill areas of the Nutzotin and Mentasta Mountains, and two major glacial rivers, the Nabesna and Chisana, which join to form the Tanana River.
The refuge was set aside primarily for its unique waterfowl values. It has one of the highest densities of nesting waterfowl found in Alaska, and annually produces between 35,000 to 65,000 ducklings to flight stage. The refuge provides habitat for 143 breeding and 47 migrating bird species. The refuge serves as a major migration corridor for many of the bird species that are entering or leaving the interior portion of Alaska. Spectacular migrations of lesser sandhill cranes and both tundra and trumpeter swans occur each spring and fall. Up to 200,000 cranes, approximately one half of the world population, migrate through this corridor. The refuge also has its own expanding population of trumpeter swans, and provides habitat for the largest concentration of ospreys in Alaska. Bald eagles are common nesters along the major rivers and shorelines of the larger lakes on the refuge.
Big game animals include moose, caribou, Dall's sheep, grizzly and black bears, and wolf. Caribou from the Nelchina and Mentasta herds commonly winter on the refuge, while small numbers of the 40-Mile, Macomb, and Chisana herds occasionally wander onto the refuge in the winter. Other mammals include wolverine, lynx, martin, otter, red fox, beaver, muskrat, snowshoe hare, and short-tailed weasel.
Arctic grayling, burbot, lake trout, northern pike, and whitefish are present in refuge lakes and rivers. No significant salmon runs reach this far inland, although small run of chum salmon and an occasional chinook and coho have been recorded. Being located in the interior portion of Alaska, the Tetlin Refuge enjoys a continental climate with low annual precipitation (10-14 inches). Day time temperatures during the summer often exceed 80 degrees Fahrenheit with nightly lows in the 50 to 60 degree range. By mid-September nightly lows drop into the upper teens and low 20's. Snow can occur at anytime, but usually not between mid-June to mid-August. During June and July there is continuous sunlight or twilight 24 hours a day. Complete snow cover occurs usually in early October and lasts through the end of April. Temperatures from November through February seldom get above zero and can drop to as low as -72 degrees. Fortunately, winds are uncommon during these very cold and dry periods. These conditions make the Upper Tanana Valley one of the coldest inhabited places in North America.
As one of only two road-accessible refuges in Alaska, the Tetlin Refuge has the unique opportunity to reaching out to nearly all the visitors who travel to the state via the Alaskan Highway. Visitation has been averaging about 160,000 people per year. Accessing the interior portion of the refuge is limited to small planes equipped with either floats or skis, river boats, or snowmobiles. Foot access to the northern portion of the refuge is available along the Alaskan Highway from the Canadian border to Gardiner Creek. Stream access for small boats is possible from the highway at Desper Creek and the Chisana River near the Northway Junction. Visitors from all of the states and many foreign countries pass along the refuge's northern boundary every year as they enter the State of Alaska. Being the first public facilities that the highway traveler encounters gives the Tetlin Refuge a unique opportunity to act as a window to provide what the refuge, other Federal lands in Alaska, Alaska itself, as well as the entire National Wildlife Refuge System have to offer.
The entire refuge is open to consumptive and non-consumptive uses throughout the year in accordance with Federal and State regulations. Primary game species taken include, moose, waterfowl, Dall's sheep, northern pike, and grayling. Furbearers are taken by resident trappers who supplement their income with catches of lynx, fox, wolf, martin, muskrat, beaver, and mink.
Permanent refuge staff includes a refuge manager, assistant refuge manager, biologist, fire management officer, park ranger, pilot, administrative technician, and carpenter I pilot. Facilities include a leased administration office/ garage complex, a leased hanger, four government owned and one leased residences in Tok, a visitor center near the Canadian border, a bunkhouse and warehouse at Northway Junction, two campgrounds near Northway, three public use/administration cabins, and one boat ramp.
The primary thrust of the refuge's programs are: 1) assembling biological data primarily with regard to waterfowl, moose, wolves, and furbearers, 2) developing the public use and interpretation programs with special emphasis on opportunities along the Alaskan Highway, 3) developing an environmental education program in area schools and communities, 4) managing wildfires and enhancing wildlife habitat though the use of prescribed burns. Planning for these programs is an ongoing process which involves participation on a local level as well as with other agencies and organizations and is guided by the refuge's Comprehensive Conservation Plan, the equivalent of a master plan for refuges outside of Region 7.
c:( . 0 c:( c:( C/) z :> c:( ()
I 1
TETLIN NATIONAL WILDLIFE REFUGE I 0 10 20 Miles SCALE I
KEY 0 Refuge Land (within boundary) G Private Land '
Land ownership mosaic within Tetlin National Wildlife Refuge administrative boundary. INTRODUCTION
TABLE OF CONTENTS ...... i
LIST OF FIGURES ...... iv
LIST OF TABLES ...... v
A. HIGHLIGHTS ...... 1
B. CLIMATIC CONDITIONS ...... 3
C. LAND ACQUISITIONS
1. Fee title ...... 7 2. Easements ...... 7 3. Other ...... Nothing To Report
D. PLANNING
1. Master Plan ...... Nothing To Report 2. Management Plans ...... 9 3. Public Participation ...... 9 4. Compliance with Environmental and Cultural Resource Mandates ...... Nothing To Report 5. Research and Investigations ...... 9 6. Other ...... Nothing To Report
E. ADMINISTRATION
1. Personnel ...... 22 2. Youth Programs ...... 27 3. Other Manpower Programs ...... Nothing To Report 4. Volunteer Program ...... 29 5. Funding ...... 31 6. Safety ...... 31 7. Technical Assistance ...... 33 8. Other Items ...... 34
F. HABITAT MANAGEMENT
1. General ...... 36 2. Wetlands ...... 36 3. Forests ...... 36 4. Croplands ...... Nothing To Report· 5. Grasslands ...... Nothing To Report 6. Other Habitats ...... Nothing To Report 7. Grazing ...... Nothing To Report 8. Haying ...... Nothing To Report 9. Fire Management ...... 38 10. Pest Control ...... Nothing To Report 11. Water Rights ...... Nothing To Report 12. Wilderness and Special Area ...... Nothing To Report 13. WPA Easement Monitoring ...... Nothing To Report
G. WILDLIFE
1. Wildlife Diversity ...... 55 2. Endangered and/or Threatened Species ...... 56 3. Waterfowl ...... 56 4. Marsh and Water Birds ...... 70 5. Shorebirds, Gulls, Terns and Allied Species ...... 72 6. Raptors ...... 74 7. Other Migratory Birds ...... 77 8. Game Mammals ...... 81 9. Marine Mammals ...... Nothing To Report 10. Other Resident Wildlife ...... 89 11. Fisheries Resources ...... 94 12. Wildlife Propagation and Stocking ...... 94 13. Surplus Animal Disposal ...... Nothing To Report 14. Scientific Collections ...... 94 15. Animal Control ...... Nothing To Report 16. Marking and Banding ...... 95 17. Disease Prevention and Control ...... Nothing To Report
H. PUBLIC USE
1. General ...... 96 2. Outdoor Classrooms -Students ...... 99 3. Outdoor Classrooms -Teachers ...... 100 4. Interpretive Foot Trails ...... 101 5. Interpretive Tour Routes ...... 101 6. Interpretive Exhibits/Demonstrations ...... 102 7. Other Interpretive Programs ...... 105 8. Hunting ...... 105 9. Fishing ...... 107 10. Trapping ...... 107
ii 11. Wildlife Observation ...... 109 12. Other Wildlife Oriented Recreation ...... Nothing To Report· 13. Camping ...... 110 14. Picnicking ...... 111 15. Off-Road Vehicling ...... 111 16. Other Non-Wildlife Oriented Recreation ...... Nothing To Report 17. Law Enforcement ...... 111 18. Cooperating Associations ...... 112 19. Concessions ...... Nothing To Report
I. EQUIPMENT AND FACILITIES
1. New Construction ...... 113 2. Rehabilitation ...... 114 3. Major Maintenance ...... 115 4. Equipment Utilization and Replacement ...... 115 5. Communication Systems ...... 117 6. Computer Systems ...... :...... 118 7. Energy Conservation ...... Nothing To Report 8. Other ...... Nothing To Report
J. OTHER ITEMS
1. Cooperative Programs ...... 120 2. Other Economic Uses ...... 120 3. Items of Interest ...... Nothing To Report 4. Credits ...... 120
K. FEEDBACK ...... 123
L. INFORMATION PACKET (inside back cover)
iii LIST OF FIGURES
1. Temperature ranges by month ...... 5 2. Precipitation and snowfall by month ...... 6 3. Buildup Index plotted with rainfall ...... 40 4. Wildfire suppression response zones ...... 70 5. Cumulative tracks per day--Kennebec Burn ...... 50 6. Number of duck broods on Tetlin Corporation Lands ...... 63 7. Total number of Trumpeter Swans recorded on Upper Tanana Valley census . 66 8. Detections of neotropropical migratory birds ...... 78 9. Spring and fall estimates of wolves on Tetlin NWR ...... 84 10. Moose ratios on and adjacent to Tetlin NWR ...... 88 11. Lynx harvest from Game Management Unit 12 ...... 90
iv LIST OF TABLES
1. Baseline water quality parameters ...... 10 2. Results of contaminant analyses ...... 12 3. Fate of radio-collared lynx ...... 15 4. Staffing levels for Tetlin NWR ...... 27 5. Volunteer hours donated on Tetlin NWR ...... 29 6. SCA volunteers in 1992 ...... 30 7. Funding history for Tetlin NWR ...... 31 8. Staff involvement in fire management activities ...... 39 9. Pre-fire and post-fire plant occurrence on Tsolmund Lake Burn ...... 52 10. Pre-fire and post-fire plant occurrence on Trail Lake Burn ...... 53 11. Index to breeding and non-breeding waterfowl population on Tetlin NWR . . . 58 12. Waterfowl production estimates and coefficients of variation on Tetlin NWR . 60 13. Number of duck broods on Tetlin Corporation Land ...... 62 14. Number of Trumpeter Swans recorded during late summer census ...... 67 15. Nest occupancy and productivity of raptors ...... 74 16. Osprey productivity ...... 75 17. Owl sightings on or near Tetlin NWR ...... 76 18. Migratory bird arrival dates ...... 77 19. Number of individuals counted on Northway Breeding Bird Survey ...... 79 20. Results of first annual North American Migration Count ...... 80 21. Estimated number of wolves in packs frequenting Tetlin NWR ...... 83 22. Moose counts in trend areas ...... 87 23. Christmas Bird Count results ...... 93 24. Fish collected for heavy metal analysis ...... 94 25. Summary of public use activities on Tetlin NWR ...... 97 26. Visitation along the Alaska Highway ...... 97 27. Nature Day camps ...... 100 28. Interpretive pullouts along the Alaska Highway ...... 102 29. Annual attendance at FWS wildlife movie programs ...... 104 30. Furbearer harvest on Tetlin NWR ...... 108 31. History of sales for Alaska Natural History Association outlet ...... 112
v A. HIGHLIGHTS
* Early winter weather literally freezes Fall leaves in place. (Section B.)
* Three Refuge plans require lots of staff effort. (Section D.2)
* Public meetings and workshops invite good local public participation. (Section D.3)
* World War II site cleanup considered for airport in heart of Tetlin Refuge. (Section D.S)
* Four more lynx radio collared in last year of three year study. (Section E.l)
* Previous RM Breeser leaves and new RM Sue C. Matthews arrives. (Section E.l)
* Summer staffing and Volunteers swells the ranks to 31. (Section E.l),
* YCC Program hits 10th season, combined with RAPS provides youths excellent opportunities. (Section E.2)
* No lost time to accident record now up to 3811 days (Section E.6)
* FMO Vanderlinden participates as Fire Behavior Analyst on a Type I Overhead Team on the Rainbow Fire, Mammoth Lakes, CA (Section E.7).
* WB Doyle assists U.S. Forest Service in conducting shorebird surveys. (Section E.7)
* No wildfires or prescribed fires on the refuge (Section F.9)
* First Spring/Summer record for Interior Alaska of a Western Meadowlark. (Section G.l)
* A single waterfowl brood survey was conducted, saving time and money. (Section G.3)
* Duck production same as last year, two of lowest years on record for the refuge. (Section G.3)
* Late Spring, wet Summer early Winter cause high nest failure and low brood size for Trumpeter Swans resulting in first decline observed in this population. (Section G.3)
1 * Caribou utilizing the refuge increases again to approximately 22,000 this year and dramatically different from five years ago. (Section G.8)
* Snowshoe hare tracks scarce, and high lynx harvest with few kittens, repeating pattern of 1982-83. (Section G.10)
* Fiftieth Anniversary of the Alaska Highway inspired travelers on snowmachines, horse and wagon, Rolls Royce cavalcade, "Harley Hogs", and restored military vehicles. (Section H.1)
* RIT Mary Timm joins seasonal staff and creates 10 nature camps sessions for local children. (Sections H.1)
* RIT Timm presents "Teach About Fire" curriculum to local teachers. (H.3)
* New Highway interpretive pullout and panel was constructed at Highway Lake, bringing the total to seven. (Section H.S)
* New exhibits at Visitor Center added included black bear hide and skull, large lake trout mount, wildflowers with Athabascan Indian names, and quality pictorial display on wildfire in Alaska. (Section H.6)
* Visitation at Refuge Visitor Center increases (again) to 37,584 for 107 day season. (Section H.6)
* Planned Winter Federal Subsistence caribou hunt never occurred because their migration continued north and moved off the refuge. (Section H.8)
* Carpenter /Pilot Carlson kept busy with construction of kiosks, interpretive signs, new office space, display case for information center. (Section 1.1)
2 B. CLIMATIC CONDITIONS
The year of 1992 had a mild beginning in comparison to other years. Temperatures were not cold enough for a long enough period to create any significant problems with any of the refuge facilities or vehicles. No temperatures colder than -32 degrees were experienced in January. February and March were the coldest months of the year, with temperature readings dipping well below -40 degrees for only a brief period. The lowest reading at Northway was -47 degrees, which occurred on February 21. However, significantly colder temperatures were experienced at refuge headquarters in Tok. Snowfall totalled only 10 inches for January, February and March.
While the lowest temperature recorded in Northway was -47 in 1992, it was a different story 50 miles to the northwest in Tok, where refuge headquarters and employee residences are located. The sub-sub-zero temperatures experienced occasionally in interior Alaska are much more tolerable than many people realize because of the very low humidity and lack of wind when these temperatures occur. TNWR-3, 02-92, LAV . ) 3 Cool weather prevailed throughout the months of April and May, with temperatures well below normal. On May 15 high winds moved through the area resulting in several hours of sustained wind velocities exceeding 30 mph on the refuge. The Remote Weather Station at Jatahmund Lake recorded a peak windspeed of 46 mph during that period. High winds occur infrequently in the upper Tanana Valley. Snow fell on 18 different days in May, for an accumulation totalling 2 inches for the month. Snow in May is not uncommon, but the number of days we experienced with snow was unusual. Lakes were late in thawing, and waterfowl migrating through the Tanana Valley had to stall for a while. Most of the refuge was snowfree by May 20.
The late spring in the upper Tanana Valley caused migrating waterfowl to utilize any snowfree areas available while awaiting warmer weather to thaw out areas further up into the Interior. This is the parking lot of the Dogmusher's Hall in Tok with the 1990 Tok Burn in background. TNWR-4, 05- 92, LAV.
The weather in June was quite variable. A hot dry snap of weather with temperatures in the 80's occurred in mid-June, but the month ended with rainy, windy weather and the temperature never getting out of the 40's.
) 4 Significant periods of dry weather never materialized for the rest of the summer. In June, July and August, the refuge received a record amount of rain. The cool, rainy conditions minimized the impact of glacier melt on the refuge and flooding was minimal. However, heavy rainfall did result in flooding of some low lying areas on private land around Northway. In fact, local flooding on July 18 closed the Northway Road for two days. Precipitation totaled 8.06 inches for July and August all in the form of rain. Over 5 inches of rain fell in July alone. By the end of August, precipitation on the refuge had exceeded the average annual amount.
September was an extremely rude month in Interior Alaska. Snowfall is common in September, but the snow does not usually stick for the duration of the winter until early to mid October. On September 14, the refuge received over 8 inches of snow. By the end of the month, precipitation totalled totalled 1.01 inches, with 11 inches in the form of snow. Winter was here to stay. Cold weather accompanying the snow eliminated any possibility of a brief thaw.
October, November and December were relatively mild as far as Interior Alaska goes, which translates into clouds and snow instead of clear, cold weather. Residents of the area were living a white Christmas rather than dreaming of it, with a high temperature that day of -16 degrees andheavy snowfall. A cold snap occurred the week of December 26 and continued through the end of the year. Snowfall for these three months totalled 23.8 inches.
Figure 1. Temperature ranges by month for 1992 with monthly record high and low temperatures, Northway, Alaska.
120 100 - 88 92 88 88 - - - - 79 80 - 70 - 67 53 - - 60 - 48 - 42 39 35 - - ~ 40 - - - - ... 20 - l 32 ~ 29 - Ill 19 0 ~ 2 Ill -6 E-< -20 - - -40 r-- - - 1992 high-low range -36 -42 - -60 f- - - record low -56 -55 - - - -64 -80 r- -72 -71 - record high -100 JAN FEB MAR APR MAY JUN JUL AUG SEP OCT NOV DEC
5 Figure 2. Precipitation and snowfall by month for 1992, Northway, Alaska. Mean monthly precipitation and snowfall derived from 1949-84 Climatological Summary for Northway, Alaska, Climate Center, University of Alaska.
Inches of Precipitation and Snowfall 0 2 4 6 8 10 12
JAN ~ FEB MAR ~ APR ~ , ~ MAY JUN "'-. JUL ...,....,.... AUG 1'-' / SEP OCT lu;n _,/' NOV ...... DEC --
1992 PREOPITATION (TOTAL= 15.11 IN) . 1992 SNOWFALL (TOTAL =459 IN) ~ :MEAN PREOPITATION (TOTAL= 9.81 IN) ~ :MEAN SNOWFALL (TOTAL =33.9 IN)
6 C. LAND ACQUISITION
1. Fee Title
The seemingly never ending process of finalizing the transfer of the Lakeview Pumping Station between federal agencies surfaced again in 1992. The General Service Administration (GSA) came up, on their own, with a three-step process whereby the Service would formally request transfer of the site, GSA would offer the site for homeless screening, then if all is suitable they would transfer the property to the Service. Needless to say the Service rejected this proposal rather strongly.
Approximately 5.45 acres of the 21.48 acre site was extensively developed as one of the main pumping stations for the Haines-to-Fairbanks Military Pipeline. The pipeline was used to transport a number of different petroleum products between the two cities for approximately 30 years. Most of the pipeline in this area was above ground except around the pumping station where it was buried.
RM Breeser conducted a Level I contaminants survey of the area and found the surface to appear relatively clean with no visible contaminants. However, the big question remains as to what has leaked underground or has possibly been buried on the site. The water well on the site is contaminated with fuel oil which indicates a rather severe subsurface pollution problem.
Based on the concerns raised by the Level I survey, Sue Schulmeister and Joan Christianson of the Regional Office conducted a Level II survey of the site in July. Fifteen soil samples were collected from various locations on the site and sent in for analysis. The refuge has not received the results from the analysis as of yet.
The Refuge recommended that the developed portion of the site be transferred to Alaska Department of Transportation who has been using the site for maintenance and storage purposes. The undeveloped portion would be transferred to the Service once the contaminants issues have been resolved. The undeveloped portion abuts the Lakeview Campground and at present is the only road accessible floatplane landing that is in close proximity to refuge lands.
2. Easements
An inquiry was made to the Regional Office, Division of Realty in March regarding the status of a request made in 1991 to begin action to obtain an easement for an existing trail across a private allotment owned by Julius Sam. This easement would allow public access to refuge lands from the Northway Airport. Not much had been done because of higher priority projects elsewhere in Region 7. It appears that
7 obtaining this easement may be much more complicated than a recent two year process that was undertaken to get an easement across the Louie Frank allotment last · year. Other alternatives may be explored to provide public access to the interior portion of the refuge from the Northway Airport area.
FMO Vanderlinden with Biological Technician I3utteri utilizing a portable CPS unit to obtain preliminary location and distance information fo r a potential easement across a native allotment owned b y Julius Sam. TNWR-5, 06-92, EI3.
) 8 . D. PLANNING
2. Management Plans
A considerable amount of time was spent redrafting the Public Use Management Plan for the refuge. A second "final" draft of the plan was submitted to the Regional Office for internal review in September of 1991. Again considerable comments carne back for inclusion in late February of 1992. Refuge staff is working with Regional Office Planning staff, in getting the comments incorporated into the plan. The finalization of this step down management plan is taking considerable time, coordination, and patience.
The Environmental Education Plan was rewritten by RM Breeser and submitted to the Associate Manager's Office for review.
FMO Vanderlinden prepared the 1992 Annual Fire Management Plan for the refuge. It contained prescriptions for five different prescribed burns and a dispatch plan. It was submitted to the Regional Office and approved in early May. FMO Vanderlinden also began work on re-writing the Refuge Fire Management Plan to comply with new agency guidance and recommendations.
3. Public Participation
A meeting was held in Tok to gather public input on the proposal to amend the Migratory Bird Treaty to allow for spring waterfowl hunting. Mimi Hogan, Regional Migratory Bird Office, did an excellent job conducting the meeting. A good cross section of local people representing true subsistence users and those that were adamantly against spring waterfowl hunting provided for a lively meeting.
A public workshop was held in November to help local residents prepare their proposal to change existing federal subsistence regulations and to recruit nominees for the regional subsistence council. The workshop was well attended and several proposals and nominee were sent forward. Cheryl Cline, of the Regional Subsistence Office, helped to conduct the workshop.
5. Research and Investigations
Winter and summer movements and predation rates of wolves on the Tetlin National Wildlife Refuge, Alaska. Regional Office assistance was requested to obtain digitized wolf location data from the Regional Office computer. No action was taken on this request. Final data analysis and write-up of this study are contingent upon obtaining
9 this data.
Impacts of placer mining on the aquatic resources of the Tetlin National Wildlife Refuge. The goal of this study is to quantify baseline levels of water quality in the major rivers and streams on the refuge. The third and final year of field sampling was completed in 1992. Water, sediment, and fish samples were collected from 13 sites August 10-21. Water samples were tested for conductivity, pH, alkalinity, hardness, turbidity, total settleable solids, and total suspended solids (Table 1). Water, sediment, and fish samples were submitted in September for testing of heavy metals.
Table 1. Baseline water quality parameters of the major rivers and streams on the Tetlin National Wildlife Refuge, Alaska, 1992. (Samples tested on same day collected unless indicated otherwise)
Total Total Suspended Conductivity Alkalinity Hardness Turbidity Settleable Solids Date Sample ID (mS/cm) pH (mg/L) (mg/L) (NTU) Solids (mg/L) Location Collected
1-WP-92-A 0.126 7.95 42 64.0 968 0.2 930 6 Nabe~na River 12~ug92 1-WP-92 -B 0.127 7.89 42 64.0 982 0.2 sao• 1-WP-92-C 0.127 7.88 44 64.0 989 0.2 870 6 2-WP-92-A 0.336 8.09 89 173.6 35.4 None so• Stuv~r Creek 2-WP-92-B 0.337 8.10 90 160.0 34.6 None 516 2-WP-92-C 0. 337 8.09 92 150.4 32.8 None so• 3-WP-92-A 0. 272 7.94 60 132.0 0.41 None <1. Alder, Creek 3-WP-92-B 0.273 7.96 59 129.2 0.44 None <1. 3-WP-92-C 0.272 7.92 60 132.0 0.37 None <1. 4-WP-92-A 0.183 8.22 85 108.0 1542 1.1 1800 1 Chis~na River ll~ug92 4-WP-92-B 0.179 8.19 84 112.0 2562 1.2 1800 1 4-WP-92-C 0.182 8.18 90 110.0 1890 1.0 1800' 5-WP-92-A 0.295 8.05 118 154.0 0.88 None 7.6' Mirror Creek 5-WP-92-B 0.283 7.96 120 161.2 1.16 None 8.2 1 " 5-WP-92-C 0.295 8.00 112 156.0 1.44 None 9. 21 6-WP-92-A 0.085 6.68 20 44.8 2.14 None 9.2' Scottie Creek 21~ug92 6-WP-92-B 0.085 6.67 24 45.2 1.96 None 8.8' " 6-WP-92-C 0.084 6.72 21 46.0 2.09 None 9. S' 7-WP-92-A 0.112 6.68 23 58.4 0.60 None <1' Desp~r Creek 7-WP-92-B 0.112 6.68 25 57.2 o. 59 None <1' 7-WP-92-C 0.111 6.72 24 56.8 0.61 None <1' 8-WP-92-A 0.058 6.62 12 32.0 1.48 None 25' Gard~ner Creek 8-WP-92-B 0.058 6.61 13 33.2 1.52 None 25' 8-WP-92-C 0.058 6.61 12 33.6 1. 50 None 26' 9-WP-92-A 0.206 7.07 89 108.0 0.89 None 60' Moos~ Creek 9-WP-92-B 0.205 7.11 83 107.6 0.95 None 57' 9-WP-92-C 0.206 7.12 80 107.2 0.98 None 57' 10-WP-92-A 0.1751 7. 93 1 83 1 90.8 40.4 Trace 120• Yellow Water Cr 10~ug92 10-WP-92-B 0.175 1 7.92 1 84 1 93.2 39.7 Trace 120 6 " 10-WP-92-C 0.175 1 7. 93 1 84 1 90.0 40.4 Trace no• 8.19 145.2 0.77' None 2.1' Upper Cheslina 11~ug92 11-WP-92-A 0. 275 83 1 11-WP-92-B 0.280 8.17 93 146.4 0.61' None 2.1 " 11-WP-92-C 0.272 8.18 91 145.6 0.67' None 2.11 " 12-WP-92-A 0.266 8.15 88 138.0 1.12' None 3.1' Lower Cheslina 12-WP-92-B 0.268 8.15 88 140.4 0. 95' None 3. 41 " 12-WP-92-C 0.268 8.17 89 139.6 1.01' None 8. S' 13-WP-92-A 0.1771 8.081 68 1 92.0 722 0.2 800' Tana~a River 10~ug92 13-WP-92-B 0.177 1 8.081 68 1 90.8 714 0.3 78o• 13-WP-92-C 0.177 1 8.081 69 1 90.0 721 0.3 79o•
tested 1 day after collected. tested 2 days after collected. tested 6 days after collected. tested 7 days after collected.
10 Lax enforcement of Canadian laws regarding placer mining could have a significant impact on the Tetlin National Wildlife Refuge. The settling pond at this Canadian placer mine, just across the border at the head of Scottie Creek, . has filled up and lost it's effectiveness. The lower portion of the Scottie Creek drainage is one of the most productive waterfowl production areas on the Tetlin Refuge. A third and final year of water, sediment, and fish samples were collected in 1992 to determine the impact that this and future mining activity may have on refuge water resources. TNWR-6, 08-10-92 HKT.
Tetlin National Wildlife Refuge DDT Study. The goal of this study is to evaluate the need/feasibility of dump site cleanup near Northway where wastes were stored or dumped during World War II construction of the airport. Fish tissue, soil, and sediment samples were collected in 1990 and test results were received on May 29, 1991. Two of 40 fish tissue samples and one of 16 soil and sediment samples had compounds above detection limits (Table 2). Compounds were detected in concentrations consistent with background levels. Final data entry and analysis awaits finalization of a DBase IV program.
) I 11 Table 2. Results of contaminant analyses of fish tissues and soil samples found to be above detection limits from the Northway area.
Sample Type Location ppm Compound ATE16FM Pike muscle Lower Moose Creek 0.02 HCB 0.02 BETA-BHC
GTE14FL Pike liver Lower Moose Creek 0.01 GAMMA-BHC 0.02 DEL-BHC 0.02 CIS-NONACHLOR 0.02 4,4'DDE 0.02 2,4' DDD 0.03 4,4' DDD 0.02 2,4' DDT
ATEOSS Soil Wooden barrel Dump 0.03 4,4' DDE 0.01 2,4' DDD 0.04 4,4' DDD 0.10 4,4' DDT
In 1992 the Northway Village Council hired a consultant to pull together available information on the contaminants situation in the Northway area so that informed decisions could be made regarding remediation. A coalition of agencies that have conducted or have an interest in resolving the contaminants situation in Northway was formed in May 1992. Coalition agencies include: Northway Village, Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS), Alaska Department of Environmental Conservation, Army Corps of Engineers (COE), Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), and Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).
Representatives of the various agencies had a conference call on May 18 and met with the Northway Village Council on May 28, 1992 to discuss data that has been collected, the significance of the data, and future plans. Preliminary sampling and analysis were conducted by COE, FAA, and the FWS. Several of the sites identified by the COE have been partially cleaned up while the results from the FAA and FWS sampling are still under review. In October 1992, WB Doyle collected some additional samples of a white powder found in several drums scattered around the Northway area for toxicity testing by the Fairbanks Ecological Services Office. Some additional sampling was contracted by the Northway Village Council in the early winter of 1992.
12 While there are plenty of known military dump sites in the Northway area, there is little evidence of hazardous levels of contaminants and a comprehensive sampling program is a multi-million dollar proposition. Hopefully, with the results of this additional sampling and the work of the Northway Village's consultant there will be enough information for those responsible to prepare scope of work statements for a comprehensive sampling program to be conducted.
In 1992 a coalition of Federal and State agencies was formed to assist the Northway Village Council with the clean up of dumps such as this. The dumps were left after the construction of the Northway Airport during World War II. TNWR-7, 08-28-92 TJD.
Kennebec fire monitoring. Work on this fire effects investigation continued in 1992 with the annual completion of winter track counts to monitor the response of small mammals. See Section F3.
The feasibility of conducting a singular duck brood survey. The primary objective of this study is to determine whether a single duck brood survey provides an adequate depiction of waterfowl brood productivity compared to two surveys. The field ) I 13 portion of the study was conducted from 1989-1991. A preliminary report was completed in 1991 which concluded that two surveys provided little additional information beyond a single survey. WB Doyle met with Biometrician Lyman McDonald on March 6, 1992 to discuss modification of refuge brood surveys as a result of the study. Final data analysis and write-up of this study are pending.
Refinement of duck brood surveys for Alaska Region. A meeting was held in Anchorage March 5, 1992 to discuss the progress of several working groups and studies related to this state-wide effort. A progress report on the single duck brood survey study was presented by WB Doyle. Efforts to standardize duck brood production surveys state-wide have gone by the wayside in light of budget cuts. Recommendations to conduct ground counts in areas of higher brood density were scrapped in favor of using helicopters, even though air to ground comparison studies have not been completed. No surveys were conducted in 1992 on the three state wide brood plots that are in the Upper Tanana Valley. However, all three plots were surveyed in 1990 and 1991.
Mortality factors, home range characteristics, and habitat preferences of lynx in State of Alaska Game Management Unit 12 (GMU-12). The goal of this study is to gather baseline data on the lynx population that inhabits the refuge and the adjacent Wrangell-St. Elias National Park and Preserve. This study was prompted by lower than expected lynx numbers in the area and is a cooperative project with the National Park Service (NPS) and Alaska Department of Fish and Game (ADF&G).
In addition to the 15 lynx captured and collared in previous years, four additional lynx were live trapped and radio collared during the spring trapping session (February 19 -April 17) and three in the fall (November 4- December 18) bringing the total to 22 live captures (Table 3).
There was an increase in dispersal from 20% in 1991 to 27% in 1992. As in 1991 we believe some lynx that dispersed are actually transient lynx from Canada. The rapid decline in snowshoe hare abundance that much of the Yukon Territory experienced in 1991 began happening on the Tetlin Refuge in 1992. An additional 13% of the lynx in the study area died from natural mortality or trapping in 1992. Natural mortalities appear to be due to starvation. Necropsies will confirm the cause of mortality.
2 2 Home range size for six male lynx averaged 139 km , compared to 170 km in 1991, while home ranges of three females averaged 56 km2 compared to 44 km2 in 1991. These are relatively large areas for lynx and are an indication of a low density hare population. Hare pellet counts which were conducted for the second year in a row also indicate a low hare density.
14 Table 3. Fate of radio-collared lynx on the Jatahmund lake study area as of December 31, 1992, Tetlin National Wildlife Refuge, Alaska.
Fate Number of lynx Percent
Alive and transmitting in study area 6 27% Dispersed -alive 2 9%
-dead 4 18%
Dispersed or radio malfunction 3 14% Mortality in study area -natural 2 9%
-trapped 1 5% Dead or slipped collar 1 5% Capture mortality 2 9% Expired radio 1 5%
Total 22 101%
The number of lynx harvested by trappers in GMU 12 surrounding the study area increased for the third year in a row, but the percent of kittens in the harvest decreased to 5%. This increase harvest with a decreased percent of kittens is typically observed in a nutritionally stressed population. Winter surveys within the study area show the fourth annual decrease in lynx tracks.
Harvested lynx carcasses were used to estimate an age structure of 0% kittens, 51% yearlings, 35% 2-year old, 11% 3-year old, and 3% 4-year old within GMU 12. Age structure in live captured lynx was 0% kittens, 36% yearlings, and 64% adults. Adults appeared to be over-represented in our live-captured sample.
The sex ratio of lynx harvested by fur trappers in GMU 12 was 67:33 (males to females) which approximates our live-captured lynx of 71:29.
Snowshoe hare track surveys in the study area indicate there has been a marked decrease in hare abundance over the past year. Additionally, snowshoe hare pellet transects indicate a decrease in the average number of pellets per quadrat over all vegetation types sampled except one. Likely there has been a decrease in the number of hares using these areas; however, actual snowshoe hare density is not known.
15 Graduate student Craig Perham took over major responsibilities of the lynx study in 1992 after a Research Work Order was established with the Alaska Cooperative Wildlife Research Unit in 1991. TNWR-8, 03-92 HKT.
, ) 16 )
Biological Technician Timm checks the map while running the 66 mile lynx trap line. TNWR-9, 03-92 CJP.
I 17 )
) Lynx live trapping activities have centered on a 1959 burn which provides ample browse for snowshoe hares and may act as a refuge for lynx during the low hare cycle. TNWR-10, 03-92 CJP.
18 )
Another near miss at a lynx cubby set. The Fremont foot snare is a safe and effective trap down to -20°F. TNWR-11, 03-92 CJP.
} 19 ) More trail sets were used as cubby sets became less effective. Most captures in 1992 were made in trail sets. TNWR-12, 03-92 CJP.
Furbearer track count index testing and development. As a spin off of the lynx study the refuge is assisting the ADF&G refine lynx population estimators using our radio collared lynx. While running the trap line we have been conducting daily track counts to test hypotheses about the rate of track deposition and accumulation. We also conducted daily telemetry flights for a 10 day period December 9-18 during which daily track counts were being conducted to relate daily movement rates of collared lynx to track deposition and accumulation. Two more 10 day periods will be conducted in the spring of 1993. Also planned for 1993 is using radio collared lynx to test various assumptions about other methods that are used to estimate lynx densities.
/ 20 Lynx tracks were recorded daily to test hypotheses about track deposition and accumulation rates in an attempt to develop a better estimator of lynx abundance. Daily radio locations for 10 day periods were correlated to daily track deposition rates. This study will continue into 1993. TNWR-13, 03-92 CJP ..
Brood visibility, survival, movements and plumage class development relative to brood surveys. This approved study plan was not funded for the third consecutive year. The goal of the study is to determine how to refine various aspects of brood survey.
I 21 E. ADMINISTRATION
1. Personnel
1. Steve W. Breeser, Refuge Manager, GS-12/5, EOD 1/31/88, PFf, transferred to Lake Umbagog National Wildlife Refuge, Errol, New Hampshire effective 7/27/92
2. Susan C. Matthews, Refuge Manager, GS-12/1, EOD 9/20/92, PFf, transferred from Alaska Maritime National Wildlife Refuge, Homer, Alaska
3. Robert A. Schulz, Assistant Refuge Manager, GS-11/7, EOD 4/3/91, PFf
4. Terrence J. Doyle, Wildlife Biologist, GS-11 /3, EOD 5/29/88, PFf
5. Larry A. Vanderlinden, Fire Management Officer, GS-11 /6, EOD 4/24/88, PFf
6. Dave Dapkus, Park Ranger, GS-11 /9, EOD 11/18/90, PFf
7. William K. Bohman, Pilot, GS-12/4, EOD 6/6/88, PFf, Local Hire
8. Melinda J. Rallo, Administrative Technician, GS-6/3, EOD 4/24/88, PFf, Local Hire
9. Donald B. Carlson, Carpenter /Pilot, WG-9 /2, EOD 6/25/90, PFf (Seasonal), Local Hire
10. Elisa Butteri, Biological Science Technician, GS-6/1, TFf, 4/18/92- 9/18/92
11. Peter Butteri, Biological Science Technician, GS-6/1, TFf, 4/18/92- 9/18/92, Local Hire
12. Henry Timm, Biological Science Technician, GS-6/1, TFf, 2/23/92 - 10/4/92, Local Hire
13. Cora Demit, Park Ranger, GS-6/1, TFf, 6/8/92-9/6/92, Local Hire
14. Verda Paul, Park Ranger, GS-4/1, TFf, 6/8/92 - 7/26/92, Local Hire
22 15. Kenneth Felix, Park Ranger, GS-4/1, TFf, 6/8/92-9/6/92, Local Hire
16. Craig Perham, Park Ranger, GS-6/1, TFf, 3/10/91 - 9/30/92
17. Romania John, Park Ranger, GS-4/1, TFf, 6/8/92-9/6/92, Local Hire
18. Jack Gates, Social Service Assistant, GS /1, TFf, 6/24/92-9/6/92, Local Hire
19. Mary Timm, Refuge Information Technician, GS-5/1, TFf, 6/8/92- 8/9/92, Local Hire
Pictured left to right: Park Ranger Dave Dapkus, Carpenter /Pilot Don Carlson, Administrative Technician Melinda Rallo, Pilot Bill Bohman, Asst. Refuge Manager Bob Schulz, Refuge Manager Steve Breeser, Fire Management Officer Larry Vanderlinden and Wildlife Biologist Terry Doyle. TNWR-14, 07-92, LAY .
) 23 )
Refuge Manager Sue Matthews. TNWR-15, 03-93, LAY.
I 24 Pictured left to right: Biological Technician Elisa Butteri, Refuge Information Technician Mary Timm, Biological Technician Hank Timm and Biological Technician Peter Butteri. TNRW-16, 07-92, LAY.
Pictured left to right: Park Ranger Romania John, Park Ranger Kenneth Felix, and Park Ranger Cora Demit. Not pictured-Park Ranger Verda Paul. TNWR- 17, 07-92, DAD.
) I 25 The "changing of the guard" occurred again on the Tetlin Refuge in 1992. Refuge Manager Steve Breeser was selected as the start up manager for the newly established· Lake Umbagog National Wildlife Refuge in New Hampshire.
Steve spent approximately ten years on the Tetlin Refuge. He was the first assistant manager and the second refuge manager on the refuge. He was instrumental in developing the strong foundation for the current refuge's programs. Steve's knowledge and insight of these program will be missed!
The going-away party for the Breesers was well-attended by refuge staff and local residents who wished them the best but were sad to see them go. TNWR-18, 07-92, WKB .
Sue Matthews, Outdoor Recreational Planner from the Alaska Maritime National Wildlife Refuge, was selected as RM Breeser's replacement. Sue has brought new insight and ideas into the management of the refuge which has strengthened the already strong and active on-going programs.
BT Hank Timm returned to duty in late February to help with the lynx and contaminants studies. He also contributed to the telemetry, swan, waterfowl, and raptor studies.
I 26 PR Craig Perham returned to duty in late March to help with National Wildlife Week activities and the ever poplar Nature Activity Day events. PR Perham returned intermittently to assist with the Public Use and Biological programs throughout the remainder of the field season. PR Perham entered graduate school at the University of Alaska in Fairbanks and took over major responsibilities of the lynx study.
Temporary employees and volunteers swelled the ranks of the refuge staff from eight to 31 during the summer field season. In late April, BT Elisa Butteri and BT Peter Butteri returned to work in the refuge's fire management program. In early June, PR Cora Demit returned to duty to supervise the day-to-day operations at the visitor center. PR Verda Paul, Kenneth Felix, and Romania John were also hired at this time to assist with the operations of the visitor center. RIT Mary Timm was hired to over see the Nature Day Camps. SSA Jack Gates was hired as the YCC/RAPS coordinator in late June. Jack also assisted C/P Carlson with late season maintenance of refuge facilities. Staffing levels for the previous five years are presented in Table 4 below..
Table 4. Staffing Levels for Tetlin National Wildlife Refuge, Alaska, FY 1988-92
FISCAL PERM TEMP TOTAL YCC/ VOL LOCAL YEAR FT PT FTE 1 RAPS HIRE
92 7(2) 2 1(1) 10(8) 11.1 6 12 11 91 7(2) 1(1) 8(6) 10.8 6 10 9 90 7(2) 1(1) 8(5) 10.8 6 10 8 89 7(2) 8(5) 10.7 6 9 7 88 7(2) 7(5) 9.2 6 5 7
1Total FTE includes Local Hire time. 2Number within ()equals number of Local Hires.
2. Youth Programs
1. Sean Brean 6/22/92 - 8/1/92 2. Johnny Grafft 5/31/92 - 6/12/92 3. Ervin Sam 5/31/92- 6/23/92 4. Roberta Almquist 5/31/92- 7/25/92 5. Lavell Jimmie 5/31/92 - 7/25/92 6. Allen Frank Jr. 5/31/92-7/25/92 7. Mark Forkner 5/31/92 - 6/25/92
The Youth Conservation Corps (YCC) continues to be an asset for the refuge. Two youths dropped out of the program, but we had the opportunity to replace one of the youths. Four youths from the village of Northway and three from Tok Community worked for us this summer. Roberta Almquist assisted AT Rallo at our headquarters office by meeting/ greeting visitors, answering telephones, data entry into the
27 computer, and filing documents. Johnny Grafft started the season and Sean Brean replaced him as summer assistant to C/P Don Carlson. Under the leadership of SSA · Jack Gates of Northway, the other four young men helped place drainage pipe along the Visitor Center walkway, stained barrier logs in the Visitor Center parking lot, hauled firewood for the campgrounds, cleared brush along perimeters of the visitor center and along campground roads. The YCC'ers also maintained and cleaned all seven highway interpretive turnouts, Deadman Lake and Lakeview campgrounds, and the day use area at Deadman Lake, helping to insure a pleasant stay for visitors to the refuge.
1992 was the tenth year in which Tetlin Refuge has used the YCC program. It has been extremely beneficial, not only as an excellent public relations tool for the communities of Tok and Northway, but also as an important employment opportunity for the kids. Teenagers, especially in Northway where there are only a handful of jobs available, rely on our YCC positions for summer work. Walter Northway school is fairly small and it is a nice feeling knowing that almost all upper class students have gone through the YCC program at one time or another; some follow this by working as seasonal Park Ranger's in years to follow.
)
Pictured left to right: YCC enrollees Allen Frank, Jr, Lavelle Jimmie and Mark Forkner, a nd Social Services Assista nt Jack Gates. TNWR-1 9, 07-92, LAY .
28 Pictured left to right, YCC enrollees Roberta Almquist and Sean Brean, Jr. TNWR-20, 07-92, LAY.
) 4. Volunteer Program
The volunteer program is a essential part of refuge summer operations, especially in the public use program. Without these volunteers many of the summer season interpretive activities such as the seven daily wildlife movies would be curtailed. People entering Alaska and travelling along the Alaska Highway would have less opportunity to learn about Tetlin Refuge, the other fifteen National Wildlife Refuges, and natural resources of the state. In 1992, volunteers donated over 3068 hours (Table 5) of service to the refuge.
Table 5. Volunteer Hours Donated to the Tetlin National Wildlife Refuge, Alaska, 1986-1992
ACTIVITY 1986 1987 1988 1989 1990 1991 1992
Maintenance 40 40 192 224 144 Biological support 472 320 368 400 Interpretive programs 640 880 2400 2688 2574 2200 Educational programs 144 100 98 132 324 Administr<~tive support 32 80 24
TOTALS 544 960 1104 2540 2978 3322 3068 ------/ 29 The Student Conservation Association Resource Assistant (SCA) program has consistently provided, people who are both well qualified and enthusiastic to volunteer at our remote location. The SCA program has proven cost effective in comparison with other volunteer organizations. Our six volunteers (Table 6) this year carne from all across the United States with each bringing varied skills, keen interests in wildlife and its management, and the desire to experience Mother Nature through working on the refuge. This year the SCAs gave over 2920 hours of work to the refuge; mostly in the interpretive program -at the Visitor Center, giving nature talks at Deadman Lake Campground and in Tok, showing wildlife films at the Alaska Public Lands Information Center (APLIC). They also helped with Nature Camps, assisted in the biological program, and provided routine maintenance at the Visitor Center.
Table 6. SCA volunteers in 1992.
NAME HOME STATE
Kelly Anderson New York Betsy Lee Washington Shona McLaren New Hampshire Patti Pakkala Michigan Gail Smith New York Karen Strigel Maryland
)
Pictured left to right, SCA Volunteers Karen Strigel, Patty Pakkala and Betsy Lee. TNWR-21, 07-92, LAV. I 30 5. Funding
Four months into the fiscal year the refuge received a preliminary budget for FY-93. The budget brought mixed emotions as it was again inadequate to fulfill the responsibilities and needs for which the refuge was established. The $14,000 decrease in 1260 funding is actually a much deeper cut because of increases in fixed cost. Higher fixed cost due to increases in salaries and facility rents have had to be absorbed along with the cuts of 1260 funds. The increase in 9100 fire funding has allowed the refuge to carry out the planned prescribed burning program and upgrade our fire equipment needs as planned. Planned wildlife inventory studies again took the biggest cut with over a 50 percent reduction from FY-91 funding level. Each year considerably more justification is required from the refuge to retain what inventories have been proposed. Table 7 shows the funding history for the refuge for the past five fiscal years.
Table 7. Funding history for the Tetlin National Wildlife Refuge, Alaska, FY-1989-93 (funding categories in thousands of dollars). -
Funding Categories
FY FTE* 1260 1230 1240 9100 8610 TOTAL
93 5.5 784 5 219 13 1,021 92 6.2 798 210 24 1,034 91 6.5 847 142 33 1,022 90 6.3 712 104 34 850 89 6.4 585 34 619
*Does not include Local Hire personnel.
6. Safet;x:
Safety is placed as one of the highest priorities for all who work for the refuge. All are expected to maintain a safety conscious attitude whenever and wherever they are working. This attitude was again demonstrated in 1992 as there were no lost time accidents. We like to think that our active and aggressive training program has a lot to do with this. The refuge has now compiled 3811 days without a lost time accident.
Monthly safety meetings were held for all staff, with rotational schedule for staff presentations. Topics in 1992 included seat belt usage, save your back, welding safety, home fires, boating and aircraft safety and defensive driving.
In June, the refuge held a week long employee orientation/safety training workshop for all staff members, including volunteers and the YCC/RAP enrollees. the training utilized a variety of presentations including staff briefings, videos, and professional
31 trainers. Training topics included:
1. Refuge Safety Plan and Administration 2. Defensive Driving 3. First Aid/CPR Certification 4. Bear Safety 5. Aircraft Safety 6. Boating Safety 7. Radio Usage 8. Gun Handling and Safety
Holly McClain, Outdoor Recreation Specialist with the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) in Tok, conducted the First Aid/CPR training. Holly is a Red Cross certified instructor. In return, the BLM seasonal staff sat in on the boating and bear safety portions of our orientation workshop.
Bi ologica l Technici an Ha nk Timm a nd Refuge Ma nager Steve 13rceser practice CPR skills on Annie. Fir5t aid a nd CPR trai ning a re im portant aspects of the refu ge training progra m . TNWR -22, 05-92, LA V. f J 32 WB Doyle and P Bohman attended 'Aircraft Water Escape" training. The course covered getting out of an inverted submerged aircraft. This is one training that management hopes will never have to be use.
ARM Schulz and PR Perham attended Arctic Survival Training at Eielson Air Force Base.
In March, P Bohman attended the 'Train the Trainer' workshop conduct by the Regional Office in Seward, Alaska. The workshop covered the state-of-the-art safety training for dealing with bears and boating safety.
The water well at the visitor center was tested monthly for contaminants. All tests were below the maximum acceptable levels set by EPA and State agencies for public drinking water.
7. Technical Assistance
During the year, the refuge staff provided considerable expertise to a wide variety of local and regional groups. These contacts included:
a. Wrangell-St. Elias Park/Preserve for trumpeter swan, moose, wolf, and caribou monitoring. b. Alaska Department of Fish and Game for management of moose, caribou, and wolves and law enforcement. We also provided recommendations on proposed changes to State controlled hunting seasons and bag limits for several species and coordinated federal subsistence seasons. c. Northway Natives, Inc. for land exchange, law enforcement, and federal subsistence regulations. d. Tetlin Native Corporation information on wildlife and subsistence use. e. Gateway School District for environmental educational materials and outdoor classroom development. f. Upper Tanana/Forty Mile Fish and Game Advisory Council on game populations, refuge operations and federal subsistence regulations. g. Alaska Department of natural Resources on fire planning and equipment and personnel assistance. h. Alaska State Troopers on law enforcement. i. U.S. Customs and Immigrations on federal game laws pertaining to importation and exportation. k. Migratory Bird Management Office -Juneau, on waterfowl populations in the Upper Tanana Valley. l. Tok Chamber of Commerce for interpretive information. m. Bureau of Land Management on subsistence regulations.
33 n. Bureau of Land Management- Alaska Fire Service for FMO Vanderlinden to function as Fire Behavior Analyst on a Type I Overhead Team on the Rainbow Fire, Mammoth Lake, California. o. WB Doyle assisted the U.S. Forest Service, Copper River Delta Institute in conducting shorebird surveys May 1-9. p. Yukon-Charlie Rivers National Preserve on subsistence regulations and information. q. FMO Vanderlinden assisted the BLM Alaska Fire Service by instructing the fire behavior portion of a Fire Suppression Specialist course May 10. r. U.S. Soil Conservation Service with snow survey data and construction of a snow pillow at the Mile 1244 Remote Automatic Weather Station. s. . U.S. Forest Service Intermountain Fire Sciences Lab in Missoula, Montana with information to initiate part of FWS-funded study of heat pulse through organic soils at Chisana Prescribed Burn site. t. U.S. Forest Service Pacific Northwest Forest Research Station with assistance to set up plots for duff consumption study at Chisana Prescribed Burn site.
8. Other Items.
FMO Vanderlinden functioned as an instructor at the FWS course "Fire Management For Line Officers in Anchorage, Alaska February 10-14 and in Albuquerque, New Mexico April 6-10. p.:~~~
FMO Vanderlinden instructing the Wildfire Suppression portion of "Fire Management For Line Officers" hosted by Region 7 in Anchorage February 10- 14 . TNWR-23, 02-92, HT . I 34 A station review was held in July by George Constantino and Paul Schmidt from the Region 7 Division of Refuges and Wildlife.
George Constantino, Associate Manager and Paul Schmidt, Deputy ARD, Refuges and Wildlife are in the center background of the picture in the process of doing a station review with the refuge staff. TNWR-24, 07-92, LAV.
Awards were received by several of the refuge staff. Wildlife Biologist Terry Doyle, Fire Management Officer Larry Vanderlinden, Biological Technician Peter Butteri and Biological Technician Elisa Butteri received Special Achievement Awards for Level IV performance. Biological Technician Hank Timm received a Special Achievement Award for Level 5 performance.
,. / ) 35 F. HABIT AT MAN ACEMENT
1. General.
Periodic fire and flooding are the two most important factors which have shaped the diversity of habitats present on Tetlin Refuge. Fire is the most cost effective management tool to date that is available to enhance wildlife habitat on the refuge.
The refuge's Comprehensive Conservation Plan has identified three basic levels of habitat management--intensive, moderate and minimal. Areas designated for an intensive level of management allow for mechanical habitat manipulation, substantial prescribed burning and water level manipulation to restore and maintain habitat for selected species such as moose, furbearers and waterfowl. Areas designated for a moderate level of management allow for habitat manipulation on a site-specific basis to restore targeted wildlife habitat. Areas designated for a minimal level of management emphasize natural influence on habitat, although prescribed burning is allowed. In actuality, viable, cost-effective habitat management alternatives available to the refuge are limited mainly to prescribed fire.
Over 100,000 acres of refuge lands have been altered by fire, flooding, highway construction and facility development, since 1:60000 scale color infrared (CIR) imagery was obtained from NASA U-2 flights in 1979 and 1980. Arrangements were made in 1992 to utilize an Office of Aircraft Safety (OAS) aircraft equipped with a camera port and oxygen, and with the BLM Alaska State Office to utilize a photogrammetry specialist to obtain new CIR imagery of the refuge at 1:30000. Because of a predominance of poor weather conditions, only 40% of the refuge was flown. Plans have been made to complete the project in 1993 barring another cloudy summer.
2. Wetlands.
Despite a wet summer, water levels on the refuge did not reach flood stage during 1992. The ice went out at the Steel Bridge on the Tanana River just north of the refuge on May 12.
3. Forests.
The early arrival of winter resulted in leaves on the deciduous trees and shrubs literally being freeze-dried in place. The abscission layers of cells in the leaf stems were killed before they were fully developed. Consequently, the only leaf drop that took place was a result of substantial wind. Many trees and shrubs were still displaying fall foliage in December.
36 Leaves were still on the deciduous trees and shrubs in December. TNWR-25, 12-92, LAV .
Pasque flowers, Pulsatilla patens, are one of the first plants to flower after the snow melts in the spring. TNWR-26, 05-92, LAV. ) , 37 9. Fire Management.
Tetlin Refuge has an active and progressive fire management program. A strong emphasis is placed on public education and information and is discussed in Section H.2. Full access to the local press is taken advantage of with periodic articles written by the refuge staff to inform the public on fire management activities on the refuge. Articles written in 1992 featured fire prevention, refuge fire management activities planned for the summer, and fire-related research. Interpretive information about fire management is provided to the public by the refuge staff with displays at the Visitor Center, the APLIC in Tok, and at two interpretive pullouts adjacent to the refuge along the Alaska Highway.
Wildfire management and prescribed fire management activities on the refuge are a team effort and are participated in by many of the refuge staff as the fire season dictates. Table 8 summarizes refuge staff involvement in fire management training, wildfire management and prescribed fire management activities in 1992.
Drought indices developed in Canada have been adopted for use in Alaska for fire management planning purposes, since indices in the National Fire Danger Rating System have not been validated for interior Alaska fuel types, reporting stations with available long term historical weather data are few and far between, and archived weather data only goes back a few years for many Remote Automatic Weather Station (RAWS) sites. The refuge preparedness plan utilizes the Canadian Forest Fire Danger Rating System Buildup Index (BUI). This index is a representation of duff available as fuel in a flaming fire front, and the relative dryness of subsurface fuels which respond to seasonal precipitation trends. Duff moisture is an important factor influencing frontal fire intensity and resistance to control in the northern boreal forest ecosystem. Low fire danger (preparedness planning Ievell) is associated with the BUI below 70, moderate fire danger (preparedness planning level 2) is associated with the BUI between 70 and 90, and high fire danger (preparedness planning level 3 and above) is associated with the BUI above 90. The refuge preparedness plan designates a BUI reading of 90 as the threshold above which no prescribed burns will be initiated. Figure 3 illustrates the buildup indices for the summer derived from weather observations collected by one of two refuge's RAWS.
38 Table 8. Staff involvement in fire management activities on the Tetlin National Wildlife Refuge, Alaska 1992.
Name Dates Assignment
FMO Vanderlinden 2-10 to 2-14 Instructor at FWS Fire Management For Line Officers Course, Anchorage, AK 4-6 to 4-10 Instructor at FWS Fire Management For Line Officers Course, Albuquerque, NM 5-4 to 5-7 Attended Alaska-Yukon Fire Behavior Training Course at Whitehorse, YT 5-14 Instructor at Alaska Fire Service Fire Suppression Specialist Course, Fairbanks, AK 6-11 to 6-20 Resource Advisor to overhead team on Paradise Fire, Northway, AK 8-21 to 8-31 Fire Behavior Analyst on Type I overhead team assigned to Rainbow Fire, Mammoth Lakes, CA 11-30 to 12-11 Attended Prescribed Fire Behavior Analyst Course, Marana, AZ
BT Peter Butteri 5-11 to 5-15 Attended Crew Boss Training Course, Fairbanks, Alaska 6-17 to 6-19 Initial Attack for Tok Area Forestry, Tok, AK 9-2 to 9-4 Rehabilitiation of horse trail in Wellesley Burn, Tetlin NWR, AK
BT Elisa Butteri 5-11 to 5-15 Attended Crew Boss Training Course, Fairbanks, Alaska 6-16 to 6-20 Helispot Manager on Mansfield Fire, Tanacross, AK 9-2 to 9-4 Rehabilitiation of horse trail in Wellesley Burn, Tetlin NWR, AK
Pilot Bill Bqhman 6-13 Surveillance of Paradise Fire, Tetlin NWR, AK
ARM Bob Schulz 2-11 to 2-14 Attended FWS Fire Management For Line Officers Course, Anchorage, AK
39 Figure 3. Buildup Index plotted with rainfall show the drying trends and relative fire danger for the 1992 fire season. The weather observations were obtained from the Remote Weather Station at Mile 1244 of the Alaska Highway, Tetlin National Wildlife Refuge, Alaska.
100 HIGH FIRE DANGER
80 MODERATE FIRE DANGER X Q) '"0 c: 60 LOW FIRE DANGER -0.. :l ::9·:; 40 ~ 20
0 0.5
2G-May 3D-May 09-Jun 19-Jun 29-Jun 09-Jul 19-Jul 29-Jul 08-Aug 1S.Aug 2S.Aug 07-Sep
Biological Technician Elisa Butteri obtaining duff and organic soils samples from Mile 1243 Burn site. Moisture content was determined for one inch wafers from the surface to icc throughout the summer to try to establish a correlation between actual moisture and Canadian Drought Index values. TNWR-27, 07-92, LAY.
I 40 Wildfire Management Activities
Wildfire management activities on the refuge continue to take place within the scope of the Alaska Interagency Fire Management Plan and the Tetlin Refuge's Fire Management Plan. The Alaska Interagency Fire Management Plan covers all fire prone federal, state and private lands in Alaska. This plan was originally developed as thirteen separate plans covering all fire prone acreage in the state. It was consolidated in 1992 as a single plan with local addendum. The plan was developed jointly by state and federal suppression and land management agencies, with the following objectives:
1) Aggressive and continued suppression action will be taken on fires which threaten human life, private property, and human-made developments.
2) Levels of fire suppression and dollars spent on fighting fires should be commensurate with the value of the resources warranting protection.
3) Selection of fire management options will optimize the ability of the landowners/managers to achieve their individual management objectives for lands and resources they administer.
The interagency plan provides for a range of suppression responses to wildfires. This plan specifies which areas receive which type of response. There are four distinct response zones delineated--critical, full, modified and limited.
Inhabited and developed areas are designated as critical response zones. These areas receive the highest priority of protection from wildfires and the most aggressive suppression effort. Undeveloped privately owned lands and areas with high resource values that require fire protection are designated as full response zones and also receive aggressive suppression action.
Modified response zones are of a lower priority where minimizing acreage burned is not a primary objective. Wildfires within this zone do require more aggressive suppression action than those in limited response zones during the peak of the fire season. Wildfires occurring in modified response zones may only receive low intensity suppression action such as indirect attack. Modified response zones can also serve as buffers between full response and limited response zones. After a designated date, usually late in the fire season, modified response zones are normally converted to limited response.
Limited response zones are designated in remote areas where values at risk do not justify the expense of aggressive suppression or where fire has been identified as a desirable natural phenomenon by the land manager. Wildfires in these zones may
41 only receive a surveillance response. A surveillance response is appropriate only as long as the fire in question does not threaten to encroach into higher priority areas or does not cause major smoke problems. Surveillance is considered a suppression response. Surveillance activities include detailed mapping of the fire perimeter, mapping of fire fuels in the path of the fire, measuring and describing current fire behavior, developing predictions of fire behavior and fire spread based on observed and predicted weather, identification of any resources which may potentially be threatened by the fire, and providing recommendations for future action.
The map presented in Figure 4 shows wildfire suppression response zones in effect for 1992 on the Tetlin Refuge.
Figure 4. Wildfire suppression response zones, Tetlin National Wildlife Refuge, Alaska, 1992.
1
< < 0 (/)• z<( ::::> < 0
TETLIN NATIONAL WILDLIFE REFUGE I 0 10 20 Miles SCALE I
KEY [] C CRITICAL RESPONSE ZONE l!!ll F FULL RESPONSE ZONE • M MODIFIED RESPONSE ZONE 0 L LIMITED RESPONSE ZONE ' 42 Within the administrative boundaries of Tetlin Refuge, a critical response zone includes all developed private property in the vicinity of the village of Northway. Critical sites are also designated for any developed private property outside of Northway. A full response zone covers most private undeveloped inholdings adjacent to the village. Modified response zones are designated along the Alaska Highway and as a buffer adjacent to full response zones, primarily on State and Federal lands. Approximately 80% of refuge lands are designated as limited response.
While the primary objective of wildfire management is cost-effective protection, the limited response on most wildfires on the refuge is compatible with refuge habitat management goals of wildlife habitat enhancement and maintenance of biodiversity.
In Alaska, BLM has been given authority to provide suppression services for wildfires occurring on Department of Interior lands as delineated in 910 DM Chapter 3. The BLM, Alaska Fire Service basically serves as a fire department for all federal lands managed by the BLM, the Bureau of Indian Affairs, FWS, and NPS. Land managers retain the ultimate responsibility for all fire management activities occurring on their respective lands. This approach effectively reduces duplication and redundancy of suppression resources, and was formulated after ANILCA and the much more complex federal ownership and land management mosaic in the state.
The State of Alaska has entered into a cooperative agreement with BLM to provide suppression services for some federal lands in Alaska in exchange for BLM protection of some state lands. This aligns protection services with locations of state and federal suppression resources such as field stations and area/ district headquarters. Tetlin Refuge is in one of the areas for which the State of Alaska provides fire suppression services under this agreement. This arrangement requires close cooperation between the refuge, the State of Alaska and BLM, Alaska Fire Service. It works largely due to the successful implementation of the Interagency Fire Management Plan and good communication between the involved agencies.
No wildfires occurred on the refuge in 1992. This was the first time this has happened in several years. The only window of high fire danger occurred in the last half of June (See Figure 5). During that window a human-caused fire was started approximately three miles from the refuge boundary on State land. The Paradise Fire did threaten to cross the Alaska highway and burn onto refuge land, but ultimately did not do so because of suppression action and moist weather. This fire was discovered and reported by FMO Vanderlinden. A Type II overhead team was briefly assigned to the fire for allotment protection along the Alaska Highway. FMO Vanderlinden was assigned as line officer providing information and direction on FWS concerns, potential suppression action guidelines on refuge land, and land ownership information. The fire ultimately burned approximately 50,000 acres, almost one third of the total acreage burned in the entire state in 1992.
43 This sequence of three pictures was taken between 2:30 and 4:30 pm on June 11, 1992, and shows the rapid increase in size from approximately 5 acres to several hundred acres that can occur on fires in black spruce, even when the wind is light, as was the case on this day. TNWR-28,29,30, 06-92, LAV. ) 44 No lightning occurred during the last half of June on the refuge. However, lightning did ignite another local fire that BT Elisa Butteri was assigned to as a Helispot ) Manager. During that same time period, BT Peter Butteri was assigned to initial attack standby at the Tok Area Forestry office. The rest of the fire season (July September) was characterized by frequent rain and cloudy weather, with no local fire activity.
Post-fire monitoring activities were performed on the Wellesley Wildfire, which burned on the refuge in 1991. Rehabilitated handlines were looked at to check for erosion and a horse trail through a portion of the fire was cleared of fallen trees.
)
Rehabilitated handline is on the left of this picture, while the flowing water on the right is in a tire track on a catline which was present before the Wellesley Fire occurred. This picture was taken in late spring eight months after the Wellesley Fire was declared out. TNWR-31, 06-92, LAY . ) I 45 The carcass of a four-wheeler was discovered during 1992 monitoring activities on the 1991 Wellesley Wildfire. No ATVs are allowed on the refuge. This ATV was apparently illegally used by a local resident in preparation for trapping activities and had a mechanical breakdown on this spot a few days before the Wellesley Fire made a run which finished it off in August of 1991. TNWR-32, 06-92, LAY .
On August 22, FMO Vanderlinden was called out with the National Type I Incident Management Team from Alaska as Fire Behavior Analyst. The team was assigned to a fire that threatened the town and ski area of Mammoth Lake, California that was burning in the Devil's Postpile National Monument and Ansel Adams Wilderness
I 46 Area. The team spent 10 days on the 7,500 acre fire, which at the peak of the effort had 1,200 personnel and 90 engines assigned to it.
Prescribed Fire Activities.
Prescribed fire activities are planned annually which are within the scope of the Tetlin Refuge's Fire Management Plan. Prescribed Burn Plans were prepared and approved for five burns in 1992: the Mile 1243 Prescribed Burn, the Tsolmund Lake Blackline Prescribed Burn, the Tahamund Waterfowl Habitat Enhancement Prescribed Burn, and the Chisana River Prescribed Burn.
The Mile 1243 Prescribed Burn Plan was carried over from 1991. The purpose of this two acre burn is to provide a roadside interpretive opportunity for visitors to the refuge to better understand the beneficial effects and uses of fire on the refuge. This burn site is actually on State land and requires State approval of the burn plan. Because the burn site is immediately adjacent to an existing interpretive display and the Alaska Highway, prescription criteria are very restrictive. The burn was not accomplished in 1992 because prescription criteria were not met.
The Tahamund Waterfowl Habitat Enhancement Prescribed Burn Plan was also carried over from 1991. The purpose of this burn is to provide improvements to waterfowl habitat by removing dead thatch in the dry lake beds and along lake margins to increase vegetative production of new shoots utilized by waterfowl, recycle nutrients, and open up areas on or adjacent to water bodies where dead vegetation was accumulating. This 600 acre burn was not accomplished because prescription criteria were not met.
The Tsolmund Lake Blackline Prescribed Burn is part of a project that has been underway since 1986. The purpose of this burn is to continue the firebreak blackline work accomplished in 1986, 1988, and 1990 (1610 acres was previously burned) to reduce the likelihood of fires which occur in the limited and modified suppression response areas on the southern end of the refuge from spreading into full and critical suppression response areas on the northern end of the refuge. This burn was not accomplished because prescription criteria were not met.
The Chisana Prescribed Burn Plan was also carried over from 1991. This large 18,300 acre block was divided into three units. The purpose of this burn is to enhance the vegetation mosaic and vegetative diversity in decadent black spruce stands within the burn unit boundaries through the use of fire. Unit 3 of this burn was ignited in 1991, with 330 acres burned. Burning of Units 1 and 2 in 1992 were not accomplished because prescription criteria were not met.
47 FMO Vanderlinden setting up a vegetation monitoring plot on the Chisana Prescribed Burn site. TNWR-33, 07-92, PB .
I 48 Fire Effects Studies.
Fire effects studies which were undertaken or continued in 1992 included winter animal track count data collection on three Kennebec Burn transects (ongoing since the Kennebec Fire occurred in 1982), pre-fire vegetation data collection on the Chisana River prescribed burn site (new), and post-fire effects data collection on the Tsolmund Lake (ongoing since 1988) and Trail Lake (ongoing since 1989) prescribed burn sites.
Two research projects have been initiated at the Chisana Prescribed Burn site in cooperation with the U.S. Forest Service. Pre-burn transects were set up in 1991 and 1992 as part of a duff consumption study undertaken by a crew from the Pacific Northwest Forest Research Station. The refuge provided transportation support and bear protection for the researchers at the burn site. Three scientists from the Intermountain Fire Sciences Laboratory travelled to the refuge in September to evaluate the Chisana Prescribed Burn site for inclusion in a FWS-funded research project on heat pulse through organic soils resulting from fire. The refuge provided transportation from refuge headquarters to the burn site for the researchers. Despite an unseasonably early 8 inch snowfall, the site was established for inclusion in the project for FY -93.
Kennebec Burn Study. Data collected on the Kennebec Burn in 1992 was limited to track counts completed three times during the winter of 1991-92. These track counts were accomplished on burned and unburned transects in three different vegetation types (spruce forest, mixed forest and tundra). They were established in 1982. Each transect consists of ten 0.1 mile segments. The starting point for each transect is at the fire perimeter and runs generally perpendicular to the fire's perimeter.
Furbearer utilization of burned areas is of particular interest, since trapping is an important subsistence activity on the refuge.
Figure 5 displays the cumulative trend data from 1983-92. The number of tracks tallied for each species was totalled for each year for the burned and unburned transects and divided by the total number of days from the last snowfall to when each count was conducted to arrive at a comparable index. Each trail that was documented during the track surveys was tallied as only two tracks to simplify presentation of results.
49 Figure 5. Cumulative tracks per day on combined, unburned and burned transects in the Kennebec Burn Area of Tetlin National Wildlife Refuge, Alaska, 1983-92. CUMULATIVE1RACKSPERDAY AFIERSNOWFALL--ALL 1RANSECTS Kennebec Bum, Tetlin NWR 15 30 ~ ttS ~ 1 20 ~ ...,>-< ~ :i 0 ~ 10 ...,<>: 05 ~ iJi 0 0 ttS 1985 1992 ~ !;SlMARTBN 1.26 0.34 :r: ~LY NX 0.04 0.74 0.39 0.32 0.25 0.13 S HARES 5.30 23.60 30.00 20 .05 21 .13 5.04 R ODENTS 16.34 2.47 7.34 3.84 3.78 1.46 5.87 f!s GROUSE 0.03 0.03 0.50 1.19 3.34 2.04 1.91
CUMULATIVE1RACKSPERDAYAFIERSNOWFALL--UNBURNED1RANSECTS Kennebec Bum, Tetlin NWR ~ 2 40 0 ~ ~- f§ 15 _,,.,...... , .., ______,______,______,_, r: ______,__ ------30 •n ~ ~ >-<..., ------1---·---.. - - ~ ------·------...... ______~ z- 1 20 0 <>: ""' ~~ ..., ~ 05 ~ "" r::::--,:-;;- ~ -~ --~ 10 ~ ~ Plt:i ..- iJi 0 0 ttS 1983 1984 1985 1986 1987 1988 1989 1990 1991 1992 ~ LS'j M ARTEN 0.54 1.41 1.23 0.80 0.04 0.26 0.16 0.53 0.07 0.31 :r: iS LYNX 0.05 0.04 0.09 0.00 0.13 1.12 0.28 0.26 0.12 0.14 S HARES 0.51 5.65 10.11 15.24 16.08 34.18 34.51 30.00 22.68 8.07 RODENTS 1.25 19.69 4.20 8.32 4.00 4.21 4.21 3.32 1.35 5.72 f!s GROUSE 0.07 0.06 0.00 0.00 1.08 0.50 0.65 1.21 0.56 0.28
CUMULATIVE 1RACKS PER DAY AFTER SNOWFALL--BURNED 1RANSECTS Kennebec Bum, Tetlin NWR ~ 2 40 0 f§ 15 30 ttS ~ ~ ...,>-< ~ 1 . .... A 20 :i · ·· · ~~ - ~ ""' ..., ~ 05 ~~ ~~ 1-- 10 ~ ~ /dSB~ iJi 0 0 ttS 1983 1984 1985 1986 1987 1988 1989 1990 1991 1992 ~ &'ijMARTBN 0.20 1.14 1.29 1.80 0.96 0.29 0.05 0.27 0.11 0.37 :r: [!!!LYNX 0.07 0.02 0.00 0.16 0.13 0.35 0.49 0.36 0.37 0.11 S HARES 3.42 0.43 0.49 4.44 3.08 13.03 25 .49 11.45 19.58 2.15 RODENTS 1.22 12.98 0.74 4.44 3.08 10.47 3.47 4.18 1.56 5.81 f!s GROUSE 0.01 0.00 0.06 0.00 2.46 0.50 1.72 5.18 3.53 3.67
50 Some general observations can be made concerning the track count data. Shrub regeneration in the burned transects is just starting to reach the point where it offers adequate cover and protection for snowshoe hares. However, hares are still showing up in somewhat lower numbers on the burned transects than unburned transects. Hare populations in general are at a low ebb in their cyclic fluctuations. The hare lynx cycle is rather evident and similar in both burned and unburned transects. Lynx and marten tracks have not been significantly different between burned and unburned transects for the past few years. Small rodent numbers are comparable on both burned and unburned transects. Grouse numbers are now greater on burned transects than unburned transects because they have begun to use some of the open hillsides that were formerly forested, feeding on buds from willow, birch and alder that are regen era tin g.
Tsolmund Lake Burn Studies. The studies underway on the Tsolmund Lake Burn site are for the most part associated with monitoring requirements to determine if burn objectives were met. Vegetation composition data was collected from two transects established before the 1988 ignition of the burn. Post-burn data was collected in 1989, 1990, 1991 and 1992 on these transects. After 1993, the transects will be sampled every five years. The field data indicates that the acreage burned thus far on the Tsolmund Lake Burn has been of light to moderate intensity. Seeds and root systems of many herbaceous plants and shrubs survived intact, resulting in fairly rapid vegetative regeneration.
Results from the Tsolmund Lake needleleaf woodland transect are shown in Table 8. The most significant short term fire effects on the vegetation in the needleleaf woodland habitat has been a reduction of mosses and elimination of the overstory of black spruce. There is an increase in the number of species present post-fire compared to pre-fire.
Trail Lake Burn Studies. The study underway on the Trail Lake Burn site is also associated with monitoring requirements to determine if burn objectives were met. Vegetation composition data was collected on four transects established before the 1989 ignition of the burn. Post-burn data was collected in 1989, 1990, 1991 and 1992 on two of these transects. After 1993, the transects will be sampled every five years.
The Trail Lake Needleleaf Woodland transect results are shown in Table 10. The prefire condition of the Trail Lake transect was generally less open and had less deadfall than the Tsolmund Lake transect, and preburn plant diversity was also lower.
51 Table 9. Pre-fire and post-fire occurrence of plants on a Needleleaf Woodland vegetation transect on the Tsolmund Lake Prescribed Burn, Tetlin National Wildlife Refuge, Alaska.
Percent Cover 1988 1989 1990 1991 1992 herbs prebum postbum postbum postbum postbum
Ash 85 40 30 10 Calamagrostis canadensis 5 trace• 10 15 trace Duff 20 20 5 Epilobium angustifolium trace Epilobium palustre trace Equisetum arvense trace trace trace trace Equisetum scirpoides trace trace Eriophorum spp trace trace 75 Geocaulon lividum trace trace trace Lichens 15 5 5 trace Litter trace 10 10 trace Mosses 80 15 15 15 10 Mushrooms trace trace Pyrola asarifolia trace Pyrola secunda trace Soil trace
Total 100 100 100 100 100 shrubs Andromeda polifolia trace trace Arctosta phlos rubra trace trace trace Arctostaphlylos uva-ursi 10 trace 5 Betula nana 5 Betula occidentalis trace Betula paprifica (shrub form) trace trace trace Chamaedaphne calyculata trace trace trace trace Empetrum nigrum trace trace Ledum palustre decumbens trace 5 5 Ledum palustre groenlandicum 5 trace 15 10 trace Oxycoccus microcarpus trace trace trace Potentilla fruticosa trace trace Rosa acicularis trace trace 5 5 Rubus chamaemorus 5 trace 5 5 trace Salix arbusculoides trace trace Salix bebbiana trace Salix glauca trace trace trace trace trace Salix planifolia pulchra 10 Shepherdia canadensis trace Vaccinium oxycoccos trace Vaccinium uliginosum trace trace trace 5 Vaccinium vitis-idaea 10 10 trace trees Betula paprifica (tree form) trace Deadfall trace Picea mariana .. 10 trace
• trace denotes < 5% cover •• live Picea mariana averaged 1.75" in diameter and 9ft in height
52 Table 10. Pre-fire and post-fire occurrence of plants on a Needleleaf Woodland vegetation transect on the Trail Lake Prescribed Burn, Tetlin National Wildlife Refuge, Alaska.
Percent Cover herbs 1989 1990 1991 1992 pre bum postbum postbum postbum
Ash 35 10 30 Calam.agrostis canadensis 15 10 15 10 Duff trace Epilobium angustifolium trace trace 10 Equisetum pratense trace Equisetum scirpoides trace trace Geocaulon lividum 5 Goodyera repens trace Lichens trace 20 20 Litter 10 30 50 15 Marchantia polymorpha 15 . Mertensia paniculata 5 5 5 Mosses 65 5 trace 15 Mushrooms trace trace Pyrola secunda trace Soil trace trace trace
Total 100 100 100 100 shrubs Alnus crispa trace trace trace Betula paprifica (shrub form) 10 10 5 Empetrum nigrum trace Ledum groenlandicum 10 5 trace trace Linnea borealis trace trace trace Ribes hudsonianum trace Ribes triste trace Rosa acicularis 5 trace trace 5 Rubus idaeus trace trace trace Salix arbusculoides trace trace trace Vaccinium vitis idaea 25 5 trace trace Viburnum edule trace trace trees Betula paprifica (tree form) 5 Deadfall 20 10 10 Pi.cea glauca trace Picea mariana 10 trace Populus tremuloides trace
•• trace denotes < 5% cover
53 )
Fireweed, Epilobium angustifolium, is a very common invader which thrives in burn sites for several years following a fire. TNWR-34, 07-92, PB.
) I 54 G. WILDLIFE
1. Wildlife Diversity
More than 180 species of birds use the refuge (see enclosed bird list) as well as 44 species of mammals, 15 species of fish, and one amphibian (wood frog). No reptiles are found on the refuge. The location of the refuge places it at the northern range of a number of bird species not found in other areas of Alaska. This fact was again highlighted this year when a singing Western Meadowlark was found near Desper Creek on June 11 . This was the first spring or summer record of Western Meadowlark for Alaska and the first record for interior Alaska. In addition the refuge is located in the main migration path of birds entering and leaving from the interior part of the state. In contrast, the extreme winter weather sends most birds winging south leaving only about 25 resident avian species. Caribou don't mind the cold weather, however. In the past five years caribou from the Nelchina and Mentasta herds have increased their winter usa
This Western Meadowlark provided the first spring or summer record for Alaska <1nd the first record for interior Al<1sb. It w<1s <1t the Border City Lodge on Desper Creek on June 11 but w<1s not found two d<1ys l<1ter. TNWR-35, 06- 11-92, HKT.
I 55 2. Endangered and Threatened Species
There is only one endangered species found on the refuge, the American Peregrine Falcon (Falco peregrinus ana tum). The population of this species has been increasing and there is some talk about de-listing it in the near future. While the Peregrine Falcon is not known to nest on the refuge they do feed on the refuge during migration. Peregrine Falcons were observed in the Upper Tanana Valley from May 5 to September 7 in 1992. The majority of sightings took place in July during several float trips on the Tanana River where there are several nest sites. Productivity surveys for peregrine falcons were conducted by the ADF&G along the Tanana River in mid-July. A nesting location near Tok, first used by Peregrine Falcons in 1991, was not used in 1992 in favor of a site one mile upriver from the 1991 location.
The State of Alaska's threatened and endangered list includes 30 plant species. Although none of these have been identified on the refuge there are three which can be found within a 150 mile radius of the refuge. These are: Aster Yukonensis, Smelowskia borealis villosa, and Thlaspi acticum.
3. Waterfowl
The extremely late spring and early winter combined with a cold wet summer had a detrimental effect on waterfowl production in 1992.
On May 27, Bruce Conant and Debbie Groves of Migratory Birds Office in Juneau conducted two aerial breeding pair surveys near the refuge as part of the statewide effort. These surveys were delayed by one week because of the extremely late spring.
56 Bruce Conant and Debbie Groves of Migratory Birds- Juneau arrived with the highly modified turbine Beaver May 27 to conduct the Breeding Pair Surveys on the Tetlin-Northway Flats. Surveys were conducted one week later than normal because of the late spring. TNWR-36, 05- 27-92, TJD.
Since the aerial transects used for continental estimates do not sample refuge lands, the refuge conducts its own on-ground breeding pair surveys. Refuge breeding pair surveys were reinitia ted in 1992 following a three year hiatus in favor of a third brood survey as part of The feasibility of conducting a singular duck brood survey study. On-ground breeding pair surveys were conducted June 8-17 on the same 11 clusters of water bodies surveyed during brood surveys. Scaup (primarily Lesser), Green-winged teal, Bufflehead and American Wigeon are the most abundant breeders on the Tetlin Refuge (Table 11). The breeding population made up 32-100% of the total number of birds in 1992, depending on the species. Percent success (number of broods per indicated pair) ranged from 0% for Northern Pintail, Blue-winged Teal, and Oldsquaw to 94% for Ring-necked Duck. It is apparent that both breeding pair and brood surveys are necessary to characterize waterfowl populations on the Tetlin Refuge because of the difference in success which may be affected by a variety of factors.
) ( 57 Table 11. Index to breeding and nonbreeding population and percent success of waterfowl on the Tetlin Na tiona! Wildlife Refuge, Alaska, 1992.
Species Indicated Total %Breeding #Broods % Success3 Pairs1 Birds2 Population
Green-winged Teal 76 157 97% 9 12% Mallard 29 92 63% 8 28% Northern Pintail 17 38 89% 0 0% Blue-winged Teal 10 20 100% 0 0% Northern Shoveler 15 39 77% 1 7% American Wigeon 36 88 82% 14 39% Unknown Dabbler 1 Total Dabblers 183 434 84% 33 18%
Canvasback 11 22 100% 2 18% Ring-necked Duck 16 99 32% 15 94% Scaup spp. 138 436 63% 21 15% Oldsquaw 3 14 43% 0 0% Surf Scoter 11 22 100% 1 9% White-winged Scoter 28 79 71% 2 7% Common Goldeneye 4 8 100% 1 25% Barrow's Goldeneye 3 6 100% 2 67% Bufflehead 51 128 80% 15 29% Unknown Diver 2 Total Diver/Seaducks 265 814 65% 61 23%
Unknown Duck 1
Total Ducks 448 1,248 72% 95 21%
1 Includes pairs and groups of 1-4 drakes except for Redhead, Ring-necked Duck, Scaup, and Ruddy Duck for which only pairs are included.
2 lncludes indicated pairs multiplied by two plus groups of five or more drakes and single hens of Redhead, Ring- necked Duck, Scaup, and Ruddy Duck.
3 Number of broods per indicated pair.
58 I
On ground breeding pair surveys were reinitiated in 1992 after a three year hiatus while we did intensive brood work. Ring-necked Ducks are becoming a more abundant breeder in recent years. More Ring-necked Ducks breed on Tetlin National Wildlife Refuge than nearly any place else in Alaska. TNWR- 37, 06-87.
This year was the first year that a single refuge brood survey was conducted on the refuge. The brood survey was conducted July 27 to August 5 on 124 water bodies in 11 clusters that have been surveyed since 1983. An estimate of the total number of young produced on the refuge is obtained using actual brood sizes and expanding the stratified sample by area of open water on the refuge. Data from 1992 was compared to intermediate surveys conducted in 1989-1991 as part of the study on The feasibility of conducting a singular duck brood survey (Table 12). A four year average of nearly 50,000 ducklings were produced annually on the refuge from 1989- 1992. 1991 and 1992 were two of the lowest years on record for duck production on the Tetlin Refuge with under 40,000 ducklings in each of those years. This contrasted with record production of over 60,000 ducklings in 1989 and 1990. Scaup, Ring necked Duck, Green-winged Teal, Bufflehead, and American Wigeon were the most abundant producers in contrast to what might be expected from the breeding pair
f 59 survey. Relatively small confidence intervals were obtained for total ducks, dabblers and divers using the stratified sample. The coefficients of variation fall within the objectives for state-wide brood surveys of much larger areas requiring more sampling effort.
Table 12. Waterfowl production estimates and coefficients of variation (CV) on the Tetlin National Wildlife Refuge determined from a stratified sample of 11 clusters of water bodies and expanded by water area.
Species 1989 1990 1991 1992 Average Young I cv Young I cv Young I cv Young I cv Green-winged Teal 6,622 42.7 5,572 20.1 6,175 39.8 3,391 40.1 5,440 American Wigeon 4,635 35.4 3,733 32.3 5,286 32.0 6,266 35.6 4,980 Mallard 1,567 34.4 3,550 41.3 1,240 82.2 2,697 67.3 2,263 Northern Pintail 2,205 40.9 914 44.5 458 102.3 894 Northern Shoveler 2,157 33.9 352 108.0 627 Blue-winged Teal 196 96.9 196 96.9 98
Total Dabblers 15,099 33.4 16,121 21.1 13,356 27.2 13,199 17.0 14,444
Scaup spp. 24,133 18.6 24,578 38.2 10,029 15.8 8,257 32.1 16,749 Ring-necked Duck 7,445 48.1 8,173 50.2 5,717 32.2 6,548 41.0 6,971 Bufflehead 4,295 33.4 6,165 25.7 4,885 25.5 4,860 28.9 5,051 Goldeneye spp. 3,722 35.1 2,677 36.5 2,245 48.2 991 59.6 2,408 Canvasback 2,488 61.5 1,853 54.5 720 50.4 589 50.0 1,412 Surf Scoter 1,379 81.7 1,155 74.9 651 138.7 391 138.7 894 White-winged Scoter. 422 113.7 1,892 68.6 1,193 52.1 877
Total Divers 44,730 21.0 46,493 30.0 24,771 8.2 23,493 15.0 34,872
Total 60,427 15.1 62,614 22.0 38,593 12.5 36,758 11.3 49,598
60 A single brood survey was conducted in 1992 after research demonstrated that little additional information was gained by conducting two surveys (one each for dabblers and divers) because of the compressed breeding season in Alaska. Scaup are consistently the most abundant producer on the Tetlin National Wildlife Refuge. TNWR-38.
Tetlin brood surveys
Four lakes located near Tetlin Village have been surveyed for duck broods in 26 of 32 years since 1961. The Migratory Birds Office conducted the survey through 1984 but because of declining budgets were unable to continue. Since 1985 refuge staff have taken over the responsibility of surveying the lakes. These counts are conducted on or about July 15th of each year and are therefore orientated towards dabblers. Butterfly, Island and Old Albert Lakes are canoed around while Gasoline Lake is walked.
The annual duck brood count on Dathlalmund (Butterfly), Gasoline, Island and Old Albert lakes, was conducted on July 15th by WB Doyle and BT Timm. There was a 25% increase in the total number of broods this year compared to 1991 (Table 13, Figure 6). Except for 1991, this is the lowest number of broods in a decade. All species were down from the long term (25 year) average except for Northern Shoveler, Gadwall, and Goldeneye. Broods of Green-winged Teal, Mallard, and American Wigeon increased from 1991. Very few diving duck broods were seen this year which is expected considering the late spring.
I j 61 N u mb e r o f b r o o d s 250
200
1\ I I \ I I 1 50 ------I - - -1 ------I I \ I I I I I I I 1 0 0 - I - ---l ---- 4 ------I_.., I \ I \ \ ______] ______so ----~- -
0 19 6 1 1965 1969 197~ 1983 1987 1991 1 9 6 3 1967 1971 1981 1985 1989 Ye a r
Total duct broodsOabbler broods
Figure 6. Number of duck broods on Tetlin Corporation lands, Alaska 1961-1992.
Up to three Ruddy Ducks were seen near Northway from May 25 to June 25 including two males courting a female. Sixteen Ruddy Ducks were seen on Dathlalmund and Gasoline Lakes near Tetlin on July 15, but no breeding activity was observed. The Tetlin-Northway flats is one of the few places in Alaska where Ruddy Ducks are consistently found.
63 Other unusual waterfowl sightings in 1992 included the third interior Alaska record of Cinnamon Teal 18 miles south of Tok on May 10-12, three Gadwall west of Tok on· July 9, and a Gadwall brood near Tetlin Village on July 15.
Geese
The refuge is an important migration route for both Canada and greater white fronted geese that migrate to and from the state. Occasionally Snow Geese and Brant are seen. Canada geese do not nest on the Tetlin Refuge in any substantial numbers. Estimates of 30-50 nesting pairs have been made from incidental observations.
Trumpeter Swans
The Upper Tanana Valley is recognized as an important migration route for Trumpeter and Tundra Swans migrating into and out of Alaska to and from the Yukon Territory (Cooper et al. 1991). However it is only recently that Trumpeter Swans have nested in the Upper Tanana Valley. In the late 1950's and early 1960's there were reports of flightless Tundra Swans near Tetlin Village during the summer but not Trumpeter Swans (Yocom 1963, Jim King, pers. comm.). In 1980 the nearest breeding Trumpeter Swans were located in the upper Copper River basin 31 miles (51 km) southwest of the refuge. The closest other breeding records were 62 miles (100 km) southeast in the Yukon Territory and 88 miles (142 km) northwest in the lower Tanana Valley. The first documented breeding record of Trumpeter swans in the Upper Tanana Valley was in 1982. Annual surveys have been conducted since 1982 providing a unique opportunity to document the expansion of this population from it's inception.
Data on population trends and nest/brood survival were obtained by conducting aerial surveys in a PA-18 Super Cub or Cessna 172 with at least one observer (King 1973). Nest surveys were conducted from 1988-1992 in late May or early June during incubation. Only active territories (historical brood or nest locations) from previous years were searched during the nest survey although new active territories were sometimes found in transit between historical territories. Clutch sizes were determined in 1990-1992 by making a low pass over the nest. Early brood surveys were conducted from 1990-1992 soon after all nests had hatched. Only active territories located during the nest survey were searched. Nest success was determined by comparing the early brood survey to the nest survey. A comprehensive survey of all water bodies in the Upper Tanana Valley was conducted in late summer (late August/ early September) of 1980, 1982, and 1985-92. Partial surveys were conducted in 1983 and 1984. The late summer survey was used to make annual population comparisons and estimate brood survival from the early brood survey. Brood observations were recorded during swan capture activities in
64 September from 1990-1991 to estimate late brood survival. Egg and cygnet survival were determined by comparing nest and brood counts from the same territory. All swan locations were recorded according to a standardized protocol (Anonymous, 1991).
Trumpeter Swans have been neck banded in the Upper Tanana Valley as far back as 1983. The primary objective of the banding effort has been to document the wintering ground of this population. Secondary objectives have been to document site fidelity of adults to breeding territories, site fidelity of subadults to the natal ground, age and location of breeding territory establishment, and to collect blood for genetics analysis. Flightless swans were captured using a long handled dip net from the float of a PA-18 Super Cub or Cessna 185. We attempt to capture all cygnets from a given brood.
The number of Trumpeter Swans in the Upper Tanana Valley expanded an average of 25% each year from 56 in 1982 to 427 in 1991 (Figure 7, Table 14) making it the fastest growing population in Alaska (Conant et al. 1992). The mean exponential rate of increase from 1982 to 1991 was r=.23. The rate of increase in 1991 was 10% and the population decreased slightly in 1992. A closer look at the number and proportion of swans in various reproductive classes further describes the population trend.
65 Number of swans 50 0
~DO ------
300 ------
200
1 0 0
0 19 8 2 1 9 8 3 1 9 8 ~ 1 9 8 5 19 8 6 1 9 8 7 1 9 8 8 1 9 8 9 1 9 9 0 1 9 9 1 19 9 2 Ye a r
Figure 7. Total number of Trumpeter Swans recorded during the late summer census in the Upper Tanana Valley, Alaska, 1982-1992.
66 Table 14. Number of Trumpeter Swans recorded during the late summer census in the Upper Tanana Valley, Alaska, 1982-1992.
Year Grouping 1982 1983 1984 1985 1986 1987 1988 1989 1990 1991 1992
Pairs without cygnets 24 22 6 26 36 66 52 72 74 96 132 Pairs with cygnets 6 12 18 24 22 24 38 50 84 68 68 Flocked birds 11 3 3 34 29 38 28 45 35 128 90 Single birds 3 0 3 11 9 7 17 15 13 17 26 Cygnets 12 27 34 43 44 44 76 90 184 118 105
Total swans 56 64 64 138 140 179 211 272 390 427 421
Average brood size 4.0 4.5 3.8 3.6 4.0 3.7 4.0 3.6 4.4 3.5 3.1
67 Cygnet production has increased from 12 in 1982 to 184 in 1990 (Table 14). The smaller population increase in 1991 and slight decrease in 1992 can be attributed to a . decline in cygnet production during those years. Cygnets have made up the largest percentage of the population in five of the nine years that complete surveys have been conducted; ranging from 21% of the population in 1982 to 47% of the population in 1990. Cygnets did not make up the highest percentage of the population in 1982, 1987, 1991, and 1992.
The number of swans in pairs without young is the second largest grouping (Table 14). The percentage of swans in pairs without young tends to mirror the percentage of cygnets in the population. The percentage of swans in pairs \-Vithout young varied greatly in the early 1980's with the highest percentage in 1982 when percentage of cygnets in the population was lowest. There was a steady decrease in the percentage of swans in pairs without young from 1987-1990 coinciding with the rapid expansion phase of the population. The percentage has increased in 1991 and 1992 as the number and percentage of cygnets decreased.
The number of flocked swans was the third largest grouping (Table 14). The percentage of flocked swans gradually decreased from 1982 to 1990 jumping up to 30% in 1991 making up the highest proportion of the population. The 1991 increase in flocked swans probably reflects the large number of cygnets produced the previous year.
The number of swans in pairs with young made up the smallest percentage of the population next to singles (Table 14). The only year in which pairs with cygnets out numbered pairs without was in 1990, the year of greatest cygnet production.
Territory establishment and success helps explain why cygnet production decreased in 1991 and 1992. To date 68 distinct territories have been identified where either a nest or brood have been observed. The number of territories has increased steadily since the first three were established in 1982. Eight new territories were identified in 1992 even though the overall swan population did not increase. This would seem to indicate that there is still vacant breeding habitat and some other factor accounted for the drop in cygnet production in 1991 and 1992.
From 1988 to 1992 an average of 76% of the territories in a given year have been active, having a nest or brood present. The percentage of active territories declined to 70% in 1991 and 1992 compared to 78% in 1989 and 90% in 1990. This would account for some of the decline in cygnet production in 1991 and 1992. It is unknown why territory activity declined. It is likely some nesting pairs fail before we conduct our nest survey.
From 1988 to 1992 an average of 77% of the active territories were successful in raising at least one cygnet to the late summer survey. Nearly 90% of the active territories in 1990 were successful accounting for the large number of cygnets produced. In contrast the 70% territory success in 1992 helps explain why cygnet
68 production declined from 1991 even though the percentage of active territories was similar. There were twice as many unsuccessful territories in 1992 compared to 1991, . 80% of which were due to nest failure.
Average brood size decreased in 1991 and 1992 accounting for some of the decrease in cygnet production those years (Table 14). Average clutch size decreased each year between 1990 and 1992. However the differences were not significant.
Egg and cygnet survival have both declined since 1990. Much of the decline in egg survival from 1992 was total clutch loss. Survival of cygnets between the early and late brood surveys was slightly higher in 1992 than 1991. However, in 1992 cygnet survival decreased after the late summer survey.
To date we have neck banded 107 Trumpeter Swans consisting of 89 cygnets, 10 subadults, and eight adults. Most neck bands are dark blue with four white codes ending in AK. To date 27 individuals have been resighted 101 times. Over 80% of the resightings have been on the wintering grounds. Fourteen individuals have been observed on Vancouver Island since as far back as the winter of 1983-84~ Most (58) resightings on Vancouver Island have come from the Comox and Courtenay areas. An additional six resightings occurred near Woss, British Columbia. There were single resightings from Qualicum Beach and Nanaimo. The first resighting of Upper Tanana Valley Trumpeter Swans in Washington's Skagit Valley occurred during the winter of 1990-91. Since that time five individuals have been observed there a total of 17 times. The first observation outside of the Puget Sound area occurred at Willipa Bay on the southern coast of Washington in December 1992. Individuals don't always return to the same wintering area. Swan 13AK was in the Skagit Valley during the winter of 1990-91 and was on Vancouver Island during the winter of 1991- 92.
There have been 15 resigh tings on the breeding grounds of seven individuals and an additional eight resightings of unidentified neck banded birds. Some highlights include a male that established a breeding territory as a 4-year-old, 21 miles from where it was banded as a cygnet. This individual has returned to the same breeding territory for the last five years. A female established a breeding territory 13 miles from where it was banded as a cygnet and has successfully bred there the last two years. An adult breeding female returned to the same territory to breed the year after banding. Four individuals banded as cygnets have been observed one to two years later, six to 25 miles from where they were banded.
Only two resightings have been made during migration. Two individuals were observed approximately 300 miles southeast of the breeding ground near Whitehorse, Yukon Territory on 15 April 1992.
An increasing statewide population coupled with favorable weather conditions may ultimately be responsible for the expansion of Trumpeter Swans in the Upper Tanana Valley. Various hypotheses ranging from global warming (Conant et al. 1992) to
69 improved winter habitat have been proposed to explain the increase in the Pacific Coast Population of Trumpeter Swans. These hypotheses have yet to be tested.
The ice free period in the Upper Tanana Valley (UTV) is such that Trumpeter Swans have enough time to nest and raise young under favorable weather conditions. A series of unfavorable weather years, such as observed in 1992, could possibly reverse the trend seen in the last decade. In 1992 an extremely late spring, followed by a wet summer and extremely early winter resulted in relatively high nest failure and low average brood size and consequently the first decline observed in this population. Actual cygnet survival from 1992 is probably even lower due to the early freeze up catching flightless cygnets.
The reason for a drop in cygnet production between 1990 and 1991 is unknown. Warm dry conditions during incubation and brood rearing probably made 1990 an exceptional year for swan production. (Conditions were so dry in 1990 that fires burned through several swan territories, yet cygnet production on those territories were some of the highest recorded). However, weather conditions during nesting and early brood rearing in 1991 did not appear to be much different than in 1990.
When conditions are right peripheral breeding habitats are capable of supporting rapid population expansions on the order of a 25% annual increase. Time will tell if and for how long the expansion in the UTV will continue. For the foreseeable future there appears to be no shortage of breeding habitat in which to expand and no shortage of swans to fuel the expansion as long as weather conditions remain favorable.
This may not be the case on the wintering grounds. As Trumpeter Swan populations expand on the breeding grounds the wintering grounds may become the limiting factor. With increased pressures for development on the wintering grounds sustained population increases may depend on the swans finding or adapting to other suitable habitats. Preliminary banding returns suggest that Trumpeter Swans may be expanding their winter range as well as their breeding range.
On August 28, Joyce Marsolais from McMaster University in Hamilton, Ontario gave a presentation at the refuge entitled "The Genetic Status of Trumpeter Swans". She discussed some of the preliminary findings of her work analyzing blood samples collected from Trumpeter Swans on the Tetlin Refuge. She is using blood from Alaska as a control for comparison of genetic variability in smaller closed populations.
4. Marsh and Waterbirds
There are nine species of marsh and water birds that occur on the refuge (see enclosed bird list). Horned Grebe and Pacific Loon are the most common breeders followed by Red-necked Grebe. Common Loons were seen at four different locations.
70 No Red-throated Loon were seen on the refuge in 1992.
A small number of Sandhill Cranes nest on the muskeg flats between Tahamund and Big John Lake. However, during spring and fall migration, up to one half of the entire world population of Sandhill Cranes (some 200,000 birds) pass through the Tanana River Valley.
Soras may be more commonly distributed on the refuge than previously believed. Soras were heard near Northway on June 6 and at Yarger lake June 14 and 25. No American Coots were seen this year. The Upper Tanana Valley is one of the few places in Alaska where these two species can be regularly found.
The early winter caught many young waterbirds by surprise. A Pacific Loon, three Horned Grebes, and a Sandhill Crane were brought into the office unable to fly. Apparently they landed on the highway thinking it was open water and were unable to take off again. The birds were released at the Tanana River which was still open.
71 Many young waterbirds including this Sandhill Crane were caught off guard by the early snow on September 10. This bird landed next to our office and ARM Schulz was able to chase it down and give it a chance to warm up before it continued on its migration. Up to one half of the world population of Sandhill Cranes passes through the Upper Tanana River Valley each spring and fall. TNWR-39, 09-92, LAV.
5. Shorebirds, Gulls, Terns and Allied Species
While some 26 species of shorebirds occur on the Tetlin Refuge, most are migrants passing between wintering and breeding grounds. The most abundant breeding shorebird is the Lesser Yellowlegs which can be found in abundance nearly everywhere on the refuge. Common Snipe are of lesser abundance but widely ) distributed while Spotted Sandpipers are common along watercourses. Red-neck'ed
72 Phalaropes are commonly seen during fall migration. Mew and Bonaparte's Gulls are commonly found on the refuge as well.
There were several unusual sightings during 1992 primarily due to the unusual spring weather. A Black-bellied Plover was seen outside our office in Tok on May 19. This is only the second time we have seen this species here during the spring. Unusual numbers of Lesser Golden Plovers were seen daily along the highways near Tok from May 13-25 with a high count of 63 on May 23. Single Upland Sandpipers were seen in Tok for the first time during spring migration on May 15, 23, and 29 and two birds were seen on May 24. Two Ruddy Turnstones were seen outside the refuge office in Tok May 18 and three other birds were seen May 20. This is the first we have seen this species in the Upper Tanana in the spring. Approximately 200 Long-billed Dowitchers were seen in migration May 23. An unusually high number of Herring Gulls were seen in 1992. A flock of 12 Herring Gulls were seen regularly at the Tok dump from early June into early July. Up to 40 were seen along the Tanana River July 21 .
)
Lesser Yell owlcgs are the most abundant breeding shorebird on the Tetlin Na ti onal Wildli fe Refuge. There is hardly a place you can go on the refuge in early summer without being mobbed by an aggressive parent. TNWR-40.
I
73 6. Raptors
Some 13 species of hawks and six species of owls are known to occur on the refuge (see enclosed bird list). Bald eagles are common nesters on the refuge.
This year a special effort was made to inventory all historic raptor nest sites in the Upper Tanana Valley. On May 22, raptor surveys were conducted down river of the Tanana River Bridge by Peter Bente of Endangered Species and Patsy Martin of Kanuti National Wildlife Refuge. BT Timm and P Bohman conducted raptor surveys upriver of the Tanana River Bridge May 27-29. The Osprey nesting survey, on adjacent Tetlin Corporation lands, was conducted by ADF&G Biologist John Wright on June 2. Nest platforms were found at 126 of the 212 nest sites checked during the nest occupancy survey.
Fifty-one nest locations were rechecked during the productivity survey (Table 15). Raptor productivity surveys were conducted July 13-14 by BT Timm and P Bohman. Biologists from the ADF&G conducted raptor productivity surveys and banding of Peregrine Falcons on the Upper Tanana July 14 and Osprey on Tetlin Corporation land July 29-30. Peregrine Falcon production was good and nestlings were about average size for this time of year while Osprey production was poor and nestlings of small size.
Table 15. Nest occupancy and productivity of raptors in the Upper Tanana Valley, Alaska, 1992.
Species Number of Nests %Nest Number of %Nest Young per Checked Occupancy Nests Success Occupied Nest Rechecked
Bald Eagle 110 46% 18 78% 0.83 Osprey 72 71% 31 32% 0.61 Common Raven 7 57% 1 100% 2.00 Peregrine Falcon 4 50% 2 100% 1.00 Red-tailed Hawk 0% 0 Golden Eagle 0% 0 Great Gray Owl 0% 0 Unidentified Hawk 0% 0
The northern portion of the refuge and the adjacent Tetlin Corporation land supports the highest density of nesting Osprey in Alaska. The ADF&G has been conducting surveys of Osprey in this 200 mi2 area since 1983 (Table 16). Osprey productivity has been poor the past two years. There is speculation that the 1991 Tok River Fire may be impacting the Osprey by releasing nutrients into the adjacent lakes resulting in decreased visibility and consequently poor fishing conditions for Osprey.
74 Table 16. Osprey productivity for the Tetlin Corporation and adjacent Tetlin National Wildlife Refuge lands, 1983-1992 (from Hughes 1984, 1985, 1986, 1987, 1988, Hughes and Wright 1990, and unpublished data).
Year Number of Nests o/o Nest Occupancy o/o Nest Success Young per Checked Occupied Nest
1982 4 75 1983 20 42 57 1.29 1984 42 41 38 0.81 1985 51 43 39 0.56 1986 49 60 56 1.28 1987 50 73 42 0.81 1988 41 62 70 1.45 1989 43 71 61 1.09 1990 46 72 71 1.25 1991 53 78 40 0.53 1992 72 71 32 0.61
Average 42.8 62.5 50.6 0.968
In the past 10 years over 120 young Osprey have been banded in the Tetlin Northway area. There have been two recoveries, both from dead birds found the same year they were banded. In 1983 a bird was found near Roseville, California and in 1986 a bird was found on the southwest coast of Mexico less than two months after it was banded.
The refuge hosts six species of owls, the most common of which is the Great Horned Owl (Table 17). Great Horned Owls, Great Gray Owls, and Northern Hawk Owls were seen and heard throughout the area during the year. No Boreal Owls were heard in 1992. Short-eared Owls are migrants and Snowy Owls are vagrants in the Upper Tanana Valley.
75 ) Table 17. Owl sightings on and near the Tetlin National Wildlife Refuge, Alaska, 1991 and 1992.
Species 1991 1992
#individuals #days #individuals #days
Grea t Horned Owl 34 19 20 17 Great Gray Owl 17 12 5 4
Northern Hawk Owl 9 6 5 5
Short-eared Owl 1 1 3 3
Boreal Owl 1 0 0
Thl! T etl i n-Nurthwa y Fl<~ ts host the la rgest cuncentr 76 7. Other Migratory Birds Noteworthy bird sightings for 1992 include the first interior Alaska record of Western Meadowlark on June 11. Large concentrations of passerines were present during spring and fall migration, apparently stalled in migration due to the unseasonal cold weather. In contrast a Dark-eyed Junco lingered through the end of the year. Woodpeckers were noticeably absent from the Tok River Burn while the number of White-winged Crossbills increased to record levels late in the year. We have maintained spring arrival dates for migrants during the past 11 years (Table 18). In 1992 early migrating species arrived earlier than normal while the late migrating species arrived much later than normal. What started out to be an early spring ended up being late due to five consecutive days of snow in mid-May during the midst of migration. A Breeding Bird Survey route has been conducted along the Alaska Highway bordering Tetlin Refuge since 1989 (Table 19). Fifty-two species have been recorded in the last four years. - Changes in seasonal detectabilities of songbirds in the Upper Tanana Valley were studied from late April to mid July, 1992. The goal of the study was to refine the timing of point counts conducted in Alaska by determining the optimal time to conduct surveys. Twelve to 16, five minute point counts were conducted in each of three different habitats every ten days from April 27 to July 9. As expected, class B neotropical migrants (those that winter primarily north of the U.S./Mexico border) peaked before class A neotropical migrants (those that winter south of the U.S. border (Figure 8) and began to decline before class A migrants peaked. Early surveys (May 1 -June 10) in the Upper Tanana Valley are confounded by migrants passing through the area. Therefore it was concluded that surveys should not begin until after June 10 after all migrants have arrived and passed through the area. Detectabilities of both class A and B neotropical migrants are relatively stable between June 10 and July 9, but it is recommended surveys go no longer that June 30 to avoid a drop in detectability of class A neotropical migrants. Table 18. Migratory bird arrival dates in the Upper Tanana Valley, Alaska, 1982-1992. Species 1982 1983 1984 1985 1986 1987 1988 1989 1990 1991 1992 Ave. Snow bunting 3/10 3/26 3/13 3/16 3/13 3/7 3/4 3/19 3/3 3/21 2/22 3/11 Bald eagle 4/9 4/7 3/29 3/16 2/19 3/24 4/5 3/29 3/28 3/21 3/30 3/25 Northern harrier 3/17 4/18 4/6 4/12 3/27 3/31 4/14 4/14 4/12 4/15 4/15 4/7 American tree sparrow 3/13 4/25 4/16 4/26 3/31 3/17 4/22 4/28 5/12 4/18 4/27 4/15 American robin 5/4 4/25 4/19 4/21 4/16 4/28 4/20 4/5 4/22 4/21 4/23 4/20 Northern pintail 5/4 4/23 4/21 4/22 4/19 4/24 4/20 4/19 4/26 4/14 4/27 4/22 Sandhill crane 4/30 4/23 4/26 4/27 4/26 4/25 4/24 4/25 4/26 4/21 4/28 4/25 American wigeon 5/4 5/3 4/22 4/29 4/29 4/27 4/26 4/25 4/27 4/28 4/27 4/27 Yellow-rumped warbler 5/6 4/26 4/27 5/1 5/3 5/1 4/29 4/27 4/26 4/30 4/27 4/29 Violet-green swallow 5/2 4/24 5/5 5/7 5/8 5/3 5/4 4/28 5/9 4/27 5/14 5/3 Average for year 4/16 4/20 4/15 4/17 4/10 4/12 4/17 4/16 4/19 4/15 4/18 4/15 77 N u mb e r o f d e t e c t i o n s 250 200 ------ 1 50 1 0 0 -;,.r-::------/ / / / / so -7------/ 0 May May 11 May 21 May 31 June 10 June 20 June 30 S u r v e y p e r i o d Class B NTMB Class A NTMB Figure 8.Detections of neotropical migratory birds (NTMB's) during seven 10 day survey periods near Tok, Alaska. Class A NTMB's winter primarily south of the U.S. border while class B NTMB's winter primarily north of the U.S./Mexico border. 78 Table 19. Number of individuals counted on the Northway Breeding Bird Survey, Alaska, 1989-1992. Number of Individuals on Species 1989 1990 1991 1992 Average STD 6/16 6/27 6/20 6/25 Dark-eyed junco 77 58 88 50 68.25 17.37 American robin 56 32 80 86 63.50 24.68 Swainson's thrush 50 72 65 64 62.75 9.22 Yel1ow-rumped warbler 26 22 24 26 24.50 1. 91 Gray jay 21 32 14 21 22.00 7.44 Cliff swallow 50 24 3 9 21.50 20.95 White-crowned sparrow 19 21 24 18 20.50 2.65 Alder flycatcher 11 13 26 26 19.00 8.12 Lesser yellowlegs 17 12 24 22 18.75 5.38 Lincoln's sparrow 10 19 24 12 16.25 6.45 Bank swallow 19 4 19 12 13.50 7.14 Ruby-crowned kinglet 11 7 16 18 13.00 4.97 Chipping sparrow 6 27 9 7 12.25 9.91 orange-crowned warbler 15 5 13 14 11.75 4.57 Hermit thrush 18 6 5 9 9.50 5.92 Varied thrush 6 7 7 17 9.25 5.19 White-winged crossbill 0 3 12 18 8.25 8.26 Common snipe 8 12 7 2 7.25 4.11 Mallard 22 1 1 2 6.50 10.34 common redpoll 6 3 12 4 6.25 4.03 Bohemian waxwing 8 0 3 12 5.75 5.32 Rusty blackbird 4 1 10 6 5.25 3.77 Solitary sandpiper 3 10 1 4 4.50 3.87 Northern flicker 4 4 4 4 4.00 o.oo Olive-sided flycatcher 3 4 4 2 3.25 0.96 Gray-cheeked thrush 2 5 1 3 2.75 1. 71 Mew gull 3 2 1 4 2.50 1.29 Pacific loon 1 2 0 5 2.00 2.16 Violet-green swallow 6 0 1 1 2.00 2.71 savannah sparrow 0 5 0 2 1. 75 2.36 Red-necked grebe 2 0 2 2 1. 50 1.00 Boreal chickadee 1 0 2 3 1. 50 1.29 Bonaparte's gull 0 2 0 4 1. 50 1. 91 Western wood-pewee 2 1 1 1 1. 25 0.50 Horned grebe 1 0 2 1 1.00 0.82 Pine grosbeak 1 2 0 1 1. 00 0.82 Belted kingfisher 0 1 1 1 0.75 0.50 Sandhill crane 2 0 1 0 0.75 0.96 Arctic tern 2 0 0 1 0.75 0.96 Sora 0 0 1 1 0.50 0.58 Tree swallow 0 0 1 1 0.50 0.58 Yellow warbler 0 0 1 1 0.50 0.58 Northern waterthrush 1 0 1 0 0.50 0.58 Trumpeter swan 0 0 0 2 0.50 1.00 White-winged seater 0 0 0 2 0.50 1.00 Common raven 0 0 0 2 0.50 1. 00 Townsend's warbler 0 0 0 2 0.50 1. 00 Green-winged teal 1 0 0 0 0.25 0.50 American wigeon 1 0 0 0 0.25 0.50 Spotted sandpiper 0 0 1 0 0.25 0.50 Wilson's warbler 0 0 0 1 0.25 0.50 P1.ne siskin 0 0 0 1 0.25 0.50 Number of spec1.es 38 32 39 4/ 39.00 6.16 79 RM Breeser and his wife Marsha conducted a North American Migration Count on May 9. During that day, 3901 individuals of 40 species were counted; most were Sandhill Cranes and Lapland Longspurs (Table 20). Table 20. Results of the first annual North American Migration Count for the Tok area (State of Alaska Game, Management Unit 12), 1992. Greater White-fronted Goose 3 Green-winged Teal 74 Mallard 41 Northern Pintail 44 Northern Shoveler 17 American Wigeon 44 Bufflehead 9 Bald Eagle 3 Northern Harrier 7 Red-tailed Hawk 5 Rough-legged Hawk 1 American Kestrel 4 Sandhill Crane 1890 Lesser Yellowlegs 21 Semipalmated Sandpiper 2 Pectora I Sand pi per 3 Long-billed Dowitcher 3 Common Snipe 4 Red-necked Phalarope 5 Bonaparte's Gull 6 Mew Gull 5 Herring Gull 1 Arctic Tern Northern Flicker 1 Tree Swallow 4 Violet-green Swallow 41 Gray Jay 2 Common Raven 9 Ruby-crowned Kinglet Townsend's Solitaire 1 American Robin 3 American Pipit 2 Yellow-rumped Warbler Wilson's Warbler 1 American Tree Sparrow 7 White-crowned Sparrow 6 Dark-eyed Junco 2 Lapland Longspur 1650 Rusty Blackbird 11 Total 3901 80 The early snow in September caught many passerines off guard. Numerous passerines could be found on any snow free patch of ground and reports came in of Rusty Blackbirds preying on other passerines. 8. Game Mammals Caribou Numbers of caribou utilizing the Tetlin Refuge have increase dramatically over the last five winters. Portions of five different herds winter on or near the refuge. The 40 mile herd is generally found north of the refuge during the winter but some members range as far south as Midway Lake. This herd has been expanding and currently numbers about 21,000. The Chisana herd is a small herd numbering about 1400 spending most of its time in the upper Chisana River, although occasionally some members come out onto the flats. The Macomb herd numbers no more than 600 animals and calves 75 miles northwest of the refuge on the Macomb Plateau. This herd has been declining in recent years. Radio-collared members of this herd were located on the refuge in 1991 and spent the summer with the N elchina herd. The Mentasta herd calves on the slopes of Mt. Sanford and generally moves onto the refuge in the winter. This is a relatively small herd numbering about 1500. A few animals summer on the refuge, primarily in the Upper Cheslina. Finally the Nelchina herd has been expanding in numbers and range. They currently number approximately 45,000 and account for the majority of the caribou wintering on the refuge since 1988. Approximately 17,000 caribou including the entire Mentasta and one third of the Nelchina herds were on the Tetlin-Northway Flats at the start of 1992. They extended from Tetlin Junction in the north as far south and east as the Chisana River, although some Nelchina animals extended into the upper reaches of Scottie Creek in the Yukon Territory. A surprising number of caribou remained on the refuge through April; although a more concerted western movement was observed. The first caribou returned to the refuge on October 1, two to three weeks earlier than in previous years. The early movement may have been due to the early snows in September. By early October approximately 22,000 caribou had reached the refuge. This included nearly the entire Mentasta and half of the Nelchina herd. Unlike other years the caribou continued eastward so that by the end of 1992 the caribou extended well east into Canada. At the end of December there were two concentrations of caribou; one in the Chicken-Boundary area and another in the Upper Ladue-Gardiner Creek area. Relatively few caribou, in scattered groups, remained on the refuge. 81 Caribou from up to five herds frequent the refuge during the winter. Approximately 22,000 caribou from the Nelchina and Mentasta herds passed through the refuge in October 1992 with very few remaining on the refuge. TNWR-42, WKB. Wolves Documentation of wolf numbers on Tetlin Refuge are based primarily on compiling miscellaneous observations collected opportunistically from refuge staff conducting other surveys and users of the refuge, primarily trappers. The best estimates of pack size have been obtained from packs that have been radio collared. Attempts at aerial wolf surveys have been frustrated by the presence of caribou on the refuge during the winter, obsct1ring wolf tracks. Prior to 1989 spring and fall estimates did not vary much from each other indicating a stable population with recruitment equaling mortality and dispersal (Table 21, Figure 9). Numbers of wolves have increased dramatically since 1988 with fall estimates consistently higher than spring estimates indicating recruitment exceeding mortality and dispersal. Fall of 1988 was the first year caribou appeared on the refuge. They have been present in high numbers every winter since then. Annual harvest from all packs has varied from seven to 19 wolves. I / 82 Table 21. Estimated number of wolves in packs frequenting the Tetlin National Wildlife Refuge, 1985-1992. Counts obtained by visual observation of wolves in agpropriate pack range, radio-collared packs, and minimum number of wolves inferred from tracks. Some spring figures determined y subtracting harvest from fall count. Harvest estimate from Alaska Department of Fish and Game sealing records and allocated to pack in appropriate range. . 1985 1986 1987 1988 1989 1990 1991 1991-92 1992 Pack name Fall Spring Fa 11 Spring Fa 11 Spring Fall Spring Fall Spring Fall Spring Fa 11 Harvest Spring Big John 2 2 6 6 3 3 0 0 8 6 7 5 5-8 5-8 Cheslina 14 9 15 15 13 10 13 11 13 9 14 9 10-14 10-14 Northway 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 7 5 5-7 3 2-4 Centra 1 6 6 6 6 12 9 4 4 6 6 6 5 6-7 1 5-6 Black ? ? 6 2 1 0 2 2 3 3 2 1 2 2 Lick Creek 7 5 9 9 9 9 2 2 3 3 10 6 12 2 6-10 Black Hills 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 2 3 4 3 Scottie Creek 5 5 ? ? ? 3 2 2 3 3 3 3 7-8 4 3-4 Upper Nabesna ? 17 ? ? ? 10 15 9 15 11 15 10 9-12 1 8-11 Carden Lake 5 5 3 ? 3 3 2 2 5 4 4 4 4-7 1 3-6 Subtota 1 39 49 45 38 41 47 40 32 56 45 70 51 64-81 47-68 10% loners 4 4 4 4 3 6 7 6-8 5-7 Total 43 54 50 42 45 52 44 35 62 50 77 56 70-89 12 52-75 83 N um b e r o f wo I v e s 1 0 0 80 ------~------I -- I I I 60 ------1------I I -/ 40 ------ 20 ------ 0 19 8 5 1 9 8 6 19 8 7 1988 1989 1 9 9 0 19 9 1 19 9 2 Year Spring Fall Figure 9. Spring and fall estimates of wolves utilizing the Tetlin National Wildlife Refuge, Alaska, 1985-1992. Several wolves were captured and radio collared in 1992. A puppy was captured on March 2 and 17 during lynx live capture work. Its radio transmitter was found to be on mortality mode on April 28. The collar was retrieved on May 5. The wolf had been legally caught in a neck snare during April but the snare was never rechecked by the trapper. A single wolf caught in a trap after the close of the trapping season was collared and released within 24 hours of it's capture. It was last heard June 2. The alpha members of the Lick Creek pack were recollared October 6. Two additional wolves from the Lick Creek pack were captured and collared as well. ~The 84 alpha male of the Lick Creek pack was trapped in November. The remaining Lick Creek wolves continued to use the traditional pack range through the remainder of 1992. The alpha male from the Bear Creek pack was heard intermittently on December 10. This radio has been malfunctioning since April 1991 but reactivates periodically. ) One of the side benefits of the lynx live capture work was capturing two additional wolves. Unfortunately, this puppy was not a very smart wolf. We captured it again two weeks after its initial capture and it was eventually killed in a trapper's snare. TNWR-43, 03-92, CJP. Moose The refuge provides substantial summer and late winter moose habitat. The higher elevations above 3,000 feet also serve as rutting and early winter habitat. The exchange of animals between the refuge and other areas in Game Management Unit 12 occurs but is not known in any detail. We conducted contour surveys in four units from 13-24 November. The Cheslina unit is located on the Tetlin refuge, the Kalukna unit is located on Tetlin Native Corporation lands, the Nabesna and Chisana units are located south of the refuge in the Wrangell-St. Elias National Preserve. 85 This year we counted the lowest number of moose (178) in the six years this survey has been conducted on all four units (Table 22). Very few moose were above timberline where they are normally found this time of year. Some moose had been above tree line earlier in the year, indicated by the old tracks observed there, but had apparently moved down earlier than normal. Rutting pods had apparently broken up early as the largest group size observed was five and most were one-to-three. It is believed that the early wet snows may have pushed moose to lower elevations and disrupted or accelerated rutting activity. In a typical year we count one-third of the estimated moose population in the Tetlin Northway Flat basin in these four units. Given the peculiarities of the moose movements this year it is difficult to say how representative these surveys are of the moose population as a whole in the basin. Given that caveat, bull, yearling, and calf ratios per 100 cows have been calculated (Table 22, Figure 10). From this data the bull ratio remains at a high and relatively constant level indicative of a lightly hunted population. Both yearling and calf ratios continued to drop, calves for the forth consecutive year. As in the past several winters the increase in caribou in the area may result in a more productive wolf population which in the long run-results in higher predation on moose calves once the caribou leave the area. If this data is representative, we may be seeing the continued effects of increased number of caribou during the winter on the moose population in the Upper Tanana Valley. Moose are an important big game and subsistence resource on the refuge. The abundance of caribou in the winter has reduced wolf predation on moose during the winter. However the net effect may be increased predation on moose ca lves in early summer. TNWR-44, CJP. 86 Table 22. Moose counts in trend areas on and adjacent to the Tetlin National Wildlife Refuge, Alaska, 1981-92. 1981-1991 % chan~e % change Parameter 1981 1982 1983 1984 1985 1986 1987 1988 1989 1990 1991 Average 1992 from 1 91 from average Total Moose 122 147 180 305 171 179 425 459 495 497 452 312.0 178 -60.6 -42.9 Cows 57 84 92 149 86 95 211 182 214 222 212 145.8 84 -60.4 -42.4 Adult Bulls 40 35 60 91 ss 57 125 147 145 175 157 98.8 74 -52.9 -25.1 Yearling Bulls 9 17 8 15 12 17 35 54 48 36 41 26.5 6 -85.4 -77.4 Calves 16 11 20 50 18 10 ss 75 85 64 42 40.5 14 -66.7 -65.5 Calves:100 cows 28.1 13.1 21.7 33.6 20.9 10. s 26.1 41.2 39.7 28.8 19.8 25.8 16.7 -15.9 -35.3 Y Bulls:100 cows 15.8 20.2 8.7 10.1 14.0 17.9 16.6 29.7 22.4 16.2 19.3 17.4 7.1 -63.1 -58.8 Bulls:100 cows 86.0 61.9 73.9 71.1 77.9 77.9 75.8 110.4 90.2 95.0 93.4 83.1 95.2 2.0 14.7 Survey date 19 18-20 18-23 29 Oct- 31 24 Nov- 3-25 27 Oct- 2-3 23-24 5-18 19-24 Nov Oct Nov 6 Nov Oct 3 Dec Nov 7 Nov Nov Nov Nov Nov Drainage surveyed' N K,CHE K,CHE,N K,CHE,N K,CHE K,CHE,N All All All All All All Survey conditions Good V Good Fair Good V Good V Good Excel Excel Excel V Good V Good Good 'Drainage codes: K = Kalukna, CHE = Cheslina, N = Nabesna to Chisana, CHI = Chisana to border 87 N um b e r o f mo o s e p e r 1 0 0 c o ws 1 2 0 1 0 0 80 60 1\ I \ I \ \ 40 - -/ '\------1- -, ... -- -- - '"'\ - - -/ - --- / \ /r-1: ',\/ \ \ ' / ' \ \ ' /, , ' \ \ I / I \. 20 -- \w' -- ; '\ -, ---- '-,- -- ~ ,------_, -:. : \ - ',' ', I \ '' 0 1981 1983 1985 1987 1989 1991 1982 1984 1986 1988 1990 1992 Ye a r Bulls YearllngsCalves Figure 10. Moose ratios of bulls, yearlings, and calves per 100 cows on and adjacent to the Tetlin National Wildlife Refuge, Alaska, 1981-1992. Four radio-collared cows were located periodically throughout 1992 to assess production, mortality, and quantify movements. The cows were checked every other day during calving (May 21-June 2) to verify if and when they had new calves. Two of the cows had twins, one had a single calf and no calves were seen with the fourth cow for a total of five calves produced from the four cows. By the end of the year five of these moose were dead. A cow and her twins were killed by a grizzly bear five days after giving birth to the twins. Another set of twins were lost four days after birth by unknown causes. Movements of adult cow moose tend to be predictable from year to year as was the case in 1992. Radio collared cows spent 88 most of their time north of the refuge in the Upper Ladue drainage and carne down to the Tetlin-Northway Flats in late April or early May to calve. One cow and calf moved to the Upper Cheslina in late August, probably to breed, but returned to the Upper Ladue drainage in late October. Grizzly Bear The grizzly is an important but little understood member of the refuge ecosystem. No estimate of population composition or total numbers is available for the refuge. Grizzlies occur throughout the entire refuge, but are found in higher numbers in the foothills and mountains. Black Bear No estimate of population composition or total numbers is available for the refuge. Black bears exist in higher numbers in the northwestern and central portions of the refuge than they do in the foothill areas to the south. Dall's Sheep Sheep are found only in the extreme southwestern portion of the refuge in the Mentasta Mountains. No surveys were conducted this year for Dall's sheep. 10. Other Resident Wildlife Snowrnachine transects have been established into Wellesley and Jatahrnund lakes to monitor the trend in furbearer abundance. The Jatahrnund Lake transect was conducted by WB Doyle, FMO Vanderlinden, ARM Schulz, and RM Breeser on January 17. There was a noticeable lack of small prey but an increased abundance of wolf sign along the 28 miles of trail. The Wellesley Lake route was foregone in 1992 because of staff and equipment needed for the lynx study. General impressions of the abundance and trend of various resident wildlife are formed by refuge staff and users of the refuge. Lynx Lynx populations have historically been assessed on the basis of sealing records and casual observation. The pervious high lynx harvest of 1982-83 was characterized by a near complete lack of kittens in the harvest. This same pattern seems to be presenting itself in the 1991-92 harvest (Figure 11). A high percentage of kittens in the harvest tends to coincide with a peak in total lynx harvest in other areas of the 89 state. Because of our proximity to Canada we may be seeing the effect of dispersing lynx from Canada being reflected in the lynx harvest rather than an increase in the resident lynx population. Consequently it is important that we obtain a reliable estimate of the refuge lynx population independent of harvest, a primary objective of the lynx study. Nu mb e r o f I y n x h a r v e s t e d I P e r c e n t a g e k i t t e n s 250 200 1 50 1 0 0 50 0 77-78 79-80 81-82 83-81 85-86 87-88 89-90 91-92 78-79 80-81 82-83 81-85 86-87 88-89 90-91 Trapping Season Harvest:ll tlttens Figure 11. Lynx harvest from Game Management Unit 12, Alaska, 1977-1992. 90 Snowshoe hare Hare populations declined noticeably in 1992. It was difficult to find a hare track during the November Kennebec Fire Effects transects. A large hare increase, indicative of the high part of the cycle, never materialized during this cycle. Hares began crashing in the adjacent Yukon Territory during November 1990 and continued to crash through 1991. Once again hare and lynx cycles on the Tetlin refuge followed those in the Yukon by about a year. Marten An abundance of microtine sign observed on the Kennebec Fire Effects transects in 1992 should provide a good food source for marten. Trappers have noticed a correlation between the number of marten and the number of lynx with marten becoming more abundant as lynx decline. This pattern may be repeating itself again this year. Most trappers on the refuge prefer to trap marten because of relatively higher pelt prices and the ease of catching. Some trappers gave up trapping in the 1992-93 season because of low pelt prices. Consequently we received few reports from trappers on the amount of marten sign. Red Fox Fox remained at relatively low levels during 1992 following a decline in late 1991. Although we are unable to explain the decline in fox we have observed several of our radio collared lynx on fox kills. Fox may be affected by lynx predation as hares decline and lynx switch to alternate sources of prey. Wolverine At one time considered a common animal throughout the refuge, the wolverine is now primarily found in the foothills and mountainous areas where access is limited. Annual harvest from the refuge is less than five animals. River Otter Although not common, characteristic sign of this wetland furbearer can be found throughout the refuge wherever there is open water. Annual harvest from the refuge varies from zero to nine. 91 Beaver The highest concentration of beaver in the Upper Tanana Valley occurs in the Scottie Desper Creek area of the Tetlin Refuge. Annual harvest from the refuge is zero some years and almost 30 in others. Muskrat Muskrat populations remained at about the same level in 1992 as in the past several years, following a drastic decline from the winter of 1987-88. Grouse Grouse remain at low levels following a rapid decline in 1991 from abundant levels in 1990 and 1989. Other Resident Birds Relatively few species of birds species are resident on the refuge. Species found on the Tok Christmas Bird Count are representative of the bird life found on any given winter day at Tetlin Refuge (Table 23). In 1992 the number of White-winged Crossbills was the highest counted and the number of Ravens was the second highest ever counted. Numbers of Black-capped Chickadees, Redpolls and Black-billed Magpies were about average while numbers of Boreal Chickadees and Gray Jays were the lowest recorded in the seven years this count has been conducted. A Dark eyed Junco spent most of the winter in Tok and was recorded on the 1992 Christmas Bird Count. Surprising was the lack of woodpeckers in the Tok burn despite two people having spent most of the day looking in the burn. No doubt the strong winds during the day prevented many birds from being heard or seen. 92 1 Table 23. Christmas Bird Count results from the Tok area, 1986-1992 • Species 1986 1987 1988 1989 1990 1991 1992 Total Common Raven 3 4 44 63 62 97 71 344 White-winged Crossbill 31 74 4 159 268 Boreal Ch1ckadee 10 8 15 28 9 9 5 84 Gray Jay 6 16 12 20 6 2 1 63 Black-capped Chickadee 6 5 15 2 5 33 Redpoll s ~P. cw 8 2 2 11 5 28 Shark-tai ed Grouse 9 9 Blac -billed Magpie cw 1 1 1 8 Hairk Woodpec ker 1 1 1 1 4 Blac - backed Woodpecker 4 4 Spruce Grouse 2 1 cw 3 Ruffed ~rouse 3 cw 3 Willow tarmigan cw 2 2 Three-toed Woodpecker 2 2 Downy Woodpecker cw 1 1 Great Horned Owl 1 1 Dark-eyed Junco 1 1 Northern Hawk Owl cw 0 Northern goshawk cw 0 Golden eagle cw 0 Pine Gros eak cw 0 No . species 7 10 10 10 7 11 9 20 No. individuals 20 79 88 133 159 131 248 858 No . party hours 42 7 9 15 . 5 13.5 13 13 113 Bi rds per party hour 0 . 5 11. 3 9.8 8.6 11.8 10 . 1 19 . 1 7. 6 cw = seen during count wee k A la rge infl ux of White-wi nged Crossbills occurred on the refu ge in la te 1992. The highest number ever recorded was during the 1992 Christmas Bird Count. TNWR-45, LAV. I 93 11. Fishery Resources Fish were collected for heavy metal analysis as part of the refuge study on the Impacts of placer mining on the aquatic resources of the Tetlin National Wildlife Refuge (see sections DS and G14). 12. Wildlife Propagation and Stocking Rainbow trout have been stocked at Hidden Lake along the highway by the ADF&G since 1982. The lake was last restocked by ADF&G in 1991. 14. Scientific Collections Fish were collected for heavy metal analysis as part of the refuge study on the Impacts of placer mining on the aquatic resources of the Tetlin National Wildlife Refuge (Table 24, see section DS) Table 24. Fish collected for heavy metals analysis, Tetlin National Wildlife Refuge, Alaska, 1992. Fork Capture Length Weight Location Species Date Method (mm) (g) Sex Disposition Mirror Creek Arctic grayling 8/12/92 Gill net 328 404 M Sacrificed Mirror Creek Arctic grayling 8/12/92 Hook & line 405 763 M Sacrificed Kalutna River Burbot 8/12/92 Hook & line 476 605 M Sacrificed Kalutna River Burbot 8/12/92 Hook & line 521 810 M Sacrificed Kalutna River Burbot 8/12/92 Hook & line 531 840 M Sacrificed Kalutna River Burbot 8/12/92 Hook & line 688 1415 M Sacrificed Kalutna River Burbot 8/12/92 Hook & line 684 2100 M Sacrificed Moose Creek Northern pike 8/18/92 Gill net 145 21 u Sacrificed Moose Creek Northern pike 8/20/92 Gill net 375 435 M Sacrificed Moose Creek Northern pike 8/20/92 Gill net 452 845 F Sacrificed Moose Creek Northern pike 8/20/92 Gill net 583 1845 F Sacrificed Moose Creek Whitefish 8/20/92 Gill net u Released Moose Creek Longnose sucker 8/21/92 Gill net 388 805 M Sacrificed Gardiner Creek Northern pike 8/18/92 Gill net 154 28 u Sacrificed Gardiner Creek Northern pike 8/18/92 Gill net 513 1310 F Sacrificed Gardiner Creek Northern pike 8/18/92 Gill net 623 2400 M Sacrificed Gardiner Creek Longnose sucker 8/19/92 Gill net 203 114 u Sacrificed Gardiner Creek Northern pike 8/21/92 Gill net 150 22 u Sacrificed Desper Creek Northern pike 8/18/92 Gill net 365 412 M Sacrificed Desper Creek Whitefish 8/18/92 Gill net u Released Desper Creek Northern pike 8/19/92 Gill net 367 383 F Sacrificed Desper Creek Northern pike 8/19/92 Gill net 378 435 M Sacrificed Desper Creek Northern pike 8/19/92 Gill net 378 417 F Sacrificed Desper Creek Northern pike 8/19/92 Gill net 458 710 F Sacrificed Scott e Creek Longnose sucker 8/18/92 G 11 net 434 1190 F Sacrificed Scott e Creek Longnose sucker 8/18/92 G ll net 434 930 F Sacrificed Scott e Creek Longnose sucker 8/18/92 G ll net 414 870 F Sacrificed Scott e Creek Whitefish 8/18/92 G ll net u Released Scott e Creek Whitefish 8/18/92 G 11 net u Released Scott e Creek Whitefish 8/18/92 G 11 net u Released 94 16. Marking and Banding Seven new lynx were captured, immobilized with Telazol and equipped with radio transmitters as part of the refuge lynx study See section DS for more information. Ten Trumpeter Swans including four adults, three subadults, and two cygnets were captured, leg banded and neck banded. An additional cygnet was leg banded but not neck banded because of its small size. One subadult Tundra Swan was captured and leg banded during Trumpeter Swan capture operations. Blood was drawn from three cygnets in 1992 for a genetics study being conducted at McMaster University in Hamilton, Ontario. See Section G3 for more information. Six wolves were captured and radio collared including four members of the Lick Creek pack, a lone adult female and a puppy. See section GS for more information. One cow moose was captured October 6 to replace a satellite collar with a conventional radio collar. 95 H. PUBLIC USE 1. General A directed purpose of the refuge as a result of ANILCA, is to provide opportunities for interpretation and environmental education. The unique location of Tetlin Refuge along both the Alaska-Canada border and the Alaska Highway makes it the first conservation area seen by most highway visitors. It is one of only two Alaskan refuges accessible by road. The Alaska Highway forms the refuge's northern boundary for approximately 65 miles, providing excellent views of the refuge as well as diverse opportunities for interpretation. We also serve an important statewide orientation role for all refuges and other conservation areas by having the first visitor contact station on the Alaska Highway. The refuge public use program is concentrated along the highway corridor because of limited access to the rest of the refuge. Table 25 summarizes the 1992 Public Use Activities on the Tetlin National Wildlife Refuge. This year saw many different modes of travel and travelers along the Alaska Highway! Western Canadian provinces along with Alaska celebrated the Fiftieth Anniversity of the construction of the Alcan Highway (now the Alaska Highway) in varied ways beginning in January and continuing throughout the year. We saw snowrnachine "runs" from Whitehorse, Yukon Territory; horse and wagon trekkers from the lower 48, a cavalcade of old Rolls Royce automobiles; 300 premium "Harley Hogs" and riders; and all manner of restored World War II military vehicles with servicemen in period uniform. Besides these travelers, many others carne by the Visitor Center who had worked on some phase of the highway construction, and were returning to "see" it again after fifty years. All in all, it was a fascinating summer to work at the refuge's Visitor Center which is located just seven miles from the Yukon-Alaska border. For all the celebrations in communities throughout Alaska and Western Canada, travelers entering Alaska via the Port of Alcan and via Poker Creek (Top of the World Highway) increased by less than 100 people over last year (Table 26). Most highway travelers pass along the northern refuge boundary twice, on their way into and on their way out of the state. 96 Table 25. Summary of Public Use activities on the Tetlin National Wildlife Refuge, Alaska, 1992. -----·-"--·------ ACTIVITY #VISITS ACTIVITY HRS ·-·---·------Interpretation Tetlin Refuge Visitor Center 37,584 18,792 Tok Headquarters 850 425 Wildlife Films- Tok APLIC 10,549 5,275 Ak Hwy Interpretive Stations 70,705 17,675 Taiga Trail 3,000 3,000 Total 122,688 45,167 Environmental Education Teachers 40 60 Students 718 2,045 Total 758 2,105 Non-consumptive Recreation Wildland/Wildlife Observation 70,705 70,705 Photography 35,352 17,676 Picnicking 4,242 4,242 Canoeing, Rafting, Boating 100 800 Camping 7,714 92,568 Total 118,113 185,991 Consumptive Recreation Hunting 1,000 8,000 Fishing 1,514 3,228 Trapping 108 648 Other Subsistence Activities 100 500 Total 2,722 12,376 GRAND TOTAL 244,281 245,638 ------·------·------ Table 26. Visitation along the Alaska Highway, 1988-1992. Entering via Entering via Year Poker Creek Port of Alcan Total 1988 29,374 106,602 135,976 1989 25,050 109,132 134,182 1990 27,618 115,866 143,484 1991 26,500 114,818 141,318 1992 28,282 113,128 141,410 97 This happened to be one of the more unusual modes of transportation on the Alaska Highway during 1992. This couple and their trusty dog made a round trip from Anchorage, Alaska to South Dakota for a summer vacation. TNWR-46, 07-92, LAV. The Tetlin Rcfuge-oper<~ted Visitor Center 98 2. Outdoor Classroom- Students ) For the fifth consecutive year, the refuge conducted summer Nature Day Camps for area children. These camps remain popular with our children and their parents, and are an important part of the refuge's environmental education program. We were fortunate to hire RIT Timm, an experienced environmental education-music teacher singer-player of many musical instruments, to teach these vital summer camps. Ten different camps (Table 27) were held for kids in grades K-8th for the communities of Tok, Border City, Tanacross, Dot Lake, and Northway; a nature camp for pre-school children was new this season. The theme concentrated on wildlife habitat this year rather than strictly wildlife as in past years. Since the communities we serve are very stable, many of the same students return to the nature camps yearly. Changing the theme was rewarding for the students. RIT Timm's musical talents enlivened the sessions, making learning about the environment more fun and presenting a brighter image of Tetlin Refuge and the Service. Building owl boxes was a popular activity during Nature Camp, as the smil es on these childrens' fa ces attests. TNWR-48, 07-92. I 99 Table 27. Nature Day Camps, Tetlin National Wildlife Refuge, Alaska, 1992. CAMP DATE # STUDENT DAYS # ACTNITY HRS Tok 4-6th June 15/19 80 498 Tok 2-3rd June 22/25 45 180 Canoe Trip Jun 29 /Jul 1 30 370 Border Ju! 6 3 12 Dot Lake Jul 9 7 28 Tok K-1 Jul 13/15 51 153 Tok Pre Jul 14/15 33 50 Tanacross Jul16 11 44 Northway Jul 21 21 63 Shen Camp Jul 22 18 45 TOTAL 299 1443 ------ The sixth Nature Activity Day was held on May 16th. This special day-long spring event was held on Saturday following National Wildlife Week. Part of the day keyed on the Earth Day theme which began more than a decade ago. Thirty-six Kindergarten through 3rd graders spent a half day with us, while 16 4th through 7th graders spent all day learning about endangered species. Eight parents and friends again graciously assisted. PR Dapkus and PR Perham taught National Wildlife Week classes at every school in the Alaska Gateway School District again this year. All classes, except 9th through 12th at Tok, participated. This years theme was Endangered Species; we emphasized North American and Alaskan species, pointing out that there are species endangered elsewhere in the U.S. that are not so in Alaska. The grizzly, gray wolf, and Bald eagle were noted. Twenty-three presentations were given to 318 students, accounting for 350 activity hours. Several other special classroom activities were conducted throughout the school year by PR Dapkus, PR Perham, or other refuge staff. Most sessions were set up to teach special wildlife subjects. 3. Outdoor Classrooms -Teachers RIT Timm presented the "Teach About Fire" curriculum developed by the Alaska Region, during the fall Alaska Gateway School District's in-service for all teachers. About a dozen teachers expressed interest in using the curriculum in the classroom. We plan to provide a one-credit course on teaching the curriculum for these teachers in the corning calendar year. 100 Our annual environmental education resource packet was again distributed to new teachers district-wide. The "Taiga Treasure," an educator's guide to the Tetlin Refuge is designed to feature the natural ecology of interior Alaska, focusing on the Tetlin Refuge. It includes information about the refuge, suggested activities, and reference and resource information. It is designed to incorporate "Alaskanized" environmental education materials into classroom activities as well as encourage teachers to break out of their classrooms and experience unique outdoor learning opportunities throughout this area. Three new films, several new books, and other teaching materials such as science demonstration kits (wildlife) for elementary grades and hand lenses, were added to the EE resource "library". "Library" items may be used by all area teachers. 4. Interpretive Foot Trails "Taiga Trail" is a 3/4 mile loop nature trail, located in Deadman Lake campground, which ends in an observation deck overlooking the lake. Campground visitors who walk the trail find bog flowers, berries, and "skinny" black spruce trees a delight. This activity is followed by relaxing on the observation deck benches and watching the varied waterfowl around the lake. 5. Interpretive Tour Routes The Alaska Highway serves as the northern boundary of the refuge for approximately 65 miles starting at the Canada/Yukon border. In addition to the private tourist vehicles, several major tour companies travel this section of highway via motorcoach as part of their Alaska tours. The visitor center received an average of three motorcoaches each day, at least one of which was the new 60' articulated type that can hold up to 60 passengers and is equipped with a snack and beverage bar and fancy bathrooms. The refuge has developed an interpretive tour route along the highway. It begins at the International Border where the refuge maintains the new international kiosk displaying interpretive signs about Canada and Alaska, then ends in Tok. Seven roadside pullouts (Table 28) with nine interpretive displays are currently in place along this route. These pullouts are popular rest stops and the exhibits are a welcome attraction. 101 Table 28. Interpretive pullouts established by the refuge along the Alaska Highway. Location Topic Milepost 1224 Wetlands Milepost 1227 Corridors for Passage Milepost 1243 The Changing Landscape; A Burning Question Milepost 1252 Solar Basin Milepost 1269 Highways of Water Milepost 1273 Ponds are not Forever Milepost 1286 The Land, The People; Wrangell-St. Elias N.P. The pullout at Highway Lake was constructed and the interpretive panel installed this summer. It is the first lake highway travellers come upon in Alaska where waterfowl, beaver, muskrats, and other larger mammals can be readily observed. The Alaska Highway bordering the refuge provides many excellent scenic vistas and occasional opportunities for wildlife observation. The Tetlin Passage newspaper includes a highway milepost natural history guide for highway travelers. 6. Interpretive Exhibits/Demonstrations There were several displays completed at the refuge visitor center. A large black bear hide/ skull and a large lake trout mount were added to the wildlife mounts on display. PR Verda Paul began a native wildflower (fresh picked) display this summer at the visitor center. She lists the English name and the Athapaskan name for each flower and then discusses them with inquiring visitors; this is a most popular display with most visitors. A portable pictorial display with informative text on fire management in Alaska was also installed at the visitor center this past summer. It was developed by the regional office with significant input from various refuges, including substantial input from FMO Vanderlinden. C/P Don Carlson built and installed an interpretive/informational kiosk at the Hidden Lake Trailhead. This kiosk provides information on the trail to the lake and on fish occurring on the refuge. 102 ) This case for a full lynx mount at the Tok APLIC was constructed by Refuge Carpenter/Pilot Don Carlson. TNWR-49, 11-92, LAV. The Tok Fire Exhibit was dedicated in August, 1992 at the Tok APLIC. This was the culmination of an interagency effort to put together a meaningful display explaining both the role of fire in Alaska from a fire effects standpoint and the story of the Tok Fire, which occurred in 1990. The display has been very well received by the public. It also won a design award in national competition. ) I 103 The award-winning Tok Fire Exhibit at the Tok APLIC presents a balanced view of fire suppression information and the role of fire in the boreal ecosystem. At the dedication of the exhibit pictured left to right are Alaska State Senator Dick Schultz, Janet McCabe from the NPS, Alaska Dept of Tourism Commissioner Conn Murphy and Refuge FMO ) Larry Vanderlinden. TNWR-50, 08-92, PB. We continued our ever-popular summer wildlife film presentations at the APLIC (Table 29 summarizes the attendance of wildlife films from 187 through 1992. A new Professional LCD Color Video projector and VHS video recorder were installed at the APLIC in mid-August. This refuge equipment upgrade allows us to show the more numerous and less expensive VHS 1/2 inch films. It supposedly requires little repair, and is much easier to operate. Table 29 . Annual Attendance at FWS Wildlife Movie Programs-Alaska Public Lands .Information Center in Tok, Alaska. YEAR SHOWS ATTENDANCE ACTIVITY HRS 1987 324 10,682 5,341 1988 597 8,467 4,234 1989 634 9,424 4,712 1990 444 5,779 2,890 1991 689 8,361 4,181 1992 777 10,549 5,275 TOTAL 2,776 44,901 22,452 ' ) f 104 The Discovery Hike is a nature walk through the community of Tok starting from the APLIC in Tok. Many older visitors enjoyed these 1/2 hour walks, which focus on local flora and are offered during June, July and August. Deckside interpretive talks were conducted at the Visitor Center and Deadman Lake campground with about 200 visitors attending them. During this years 107 day summer season (May 24 to September 7), visitation at the visiter center was significantly higher than 1989 (first year the center was open). The visitor center received 30,000 visitors in 1990, 33,000 in 1991, and 37,584 in 1992. The visitor contact area at refuge headquarters in Tok is also a popular stop for tourists to the area. Approximately 850 visitors came to the office in 1992. The refuge actively cooperates in the APLIC by providing two seasonal volunteer employees. This busy center had approximately 50,000 visitors in 1992. Approximately 90 percent of this traffic arrived between mid-May and mid September. 7. Other Interpretive Programs Refuge Remarks, a regular column in Tok's bi-monthly newspaper, the Mukluk News, completed its sixth volume this year. These 26 news releases remain an effective means of relating refuge happenings, and provide environmental education and interpretive information to local residents. The Tetlin Passage, is a eight page natural history "brochure" in newspaper form presenting articles and pictures on the wildlife, wildlife habitat, fishery, geology, and early people of the refuge area. It was updated this year with new photos and several new articles, and over 83,000 copies were printed. It is a very good, popular, easy, and inexpensive way of getting information to the public. 8. Hunting The entire refuge is open to hunting in accordance with state and federal regulations. Although hunting pressure is usually light in any one given area, the refuge does receive considerable hunting pressure especially in the vicinity of the Alaska Highway, Northway Village, and along the major navigable waterways. Late in 1989 the Alaska Supreme Court ruled that the designation of subsistence users with rural and non-rural criteria was unconstitutional. Therefore, most winter hunting seasons that were used mainly to fulfill local subsistence needs were halted by the state. The state did not find another means to regulate subsistence versus sport hunts in 1990, resulting in the federal government taking over the management of subsistence hunts on all Federal owned land. This forced the Federal government to assume management of subsistence harvest of fish and wildlife on public lands in 105 Alaska and implement their own set of regulations to provide subsistence opportunities. In addition to the normal State seasons which had been adopted into the Federal Subsistence Regulations, the Tetlin Refuge opened a subsistence moose hunt for the third year in a row, from November 20 to November 30. A subsistence caribou hunt was also planned for late November and early December to harvest animals from the Nelchina/Mentasta herds. The moose season was established to provide an additional opportunity for GMU 12 hunters to harvest moose in the more inaccessible areas of the refuge. This late season would also give hunters a chance to access moose by snowmachine. We expected the pressure to be relatively light because it takes quite a bit of preparation to make a two or three day hunting trip twenty miles into the refuge in the dead of winter. Because there were very few moose harvested during the general state run sport hunt there was much more interest than expected in the 1992 subsistence moose hunt. To our knowledge, no moose were taken during this ten day hunt. The planned subsistence caribou hunt was never opened. The key element of the hunt, the unpredictable caribou, did not remain on the refuge in sufficient enough numbers to allow the hunt to be opened. We monitored the two caribou herds throughout the winter months but sufficient numbers did not return to the refuge during their spring migration to allow for a spring hunt to be opened. Most waterfowl hunters visiting the refuge primarily concentrate in the areas of Fish Lake, Desper - Scottie Creek, Ten mile - Stuver Creek, and the Kalutna River areas. Pressure is usually light, rarely exceeding 50 hunters per day. On opening day, refuge law enforcement officers found very light pressure on the Fish Lake complex. The absence of the one usual guiding operation, owing to his arrest in 1988 and prison sentence in 1989 for waterfowl violations, greatly reduced the airboat traffic. Moose are the primary target of big game hunters on the refuge. Most activity occurs along major lakes and rivers. Access is via float planes, boats and on foot. Road hunting along the Alaska Highway is very popular among the residents of Northway. Although no precise means for documenting harvest exist (except for harvest ticket returns), it is felt that the overall harvest has remained unchanged from recent years. The area's reputation for low moose populations is a major factor in the limited number of hunters. The Tok area is well known for its Dall's sheep. The refuge itself is of lesser acclaim, but areas such as the refuge highlands are of increasing interest to hunters, especially since it is not dependent on drawing a permit as is surrounding state managed areas. Both black and grizzly bear are hunted on the refuge, but they are primarily taken incidental to other big game hunts because of their relatively small size. 106 9. Fishing Subsistence fishing for whitefish and burbot continues by villagers of Northway and Tetlin on Moose Creek, Kalutna, Chisana, and Nabesna Rivers. Local sport fishermen utilize Jatahmund Lake, American Wellesley Lake, and the Scottie-Desper Creek areas. Non-resident sport fishing occurs primarily along the Alaska Highway, with the majority of use coming from visitors who stop at anything that looks like a stream crossing. Fish stocks, primarily grayling, have been over harvested or depleted in most of the accessible areas. Fly-in sport fishing occurs on Jatahmund Lake, American Wellesley Lake and Takomahto Lake. Fisherman usually report that the scenic qualities and the wilderness experience are more appreciated than the fishing success which is sometimes as low as one or two fish per person per day. The stocked rainbow trout fishery at Hidden Lake is receiving increased use, both by locals in the winter months and nonresidents in the summer. The lake is primarily used by residents of Northway. Reports from the lake of limits of fish taken with lengths up to 22 inches are common. 10. Trapping Trapping is carried out on refuge lands by local residents. Although a significant amount of trapping occurs in areas within the boundaries of the refuge, much of it occurs on private inholdings, and is centered around the village of Northway and the lands to the northeast. Seven trappers are known to have established traplines that reach to the central portions of the refuge, and two airplane trappers trap in the more remote southern sections. Primary furbearers captured include muskrat, marten, red fox and lynx (Table 30). The 1992 price for martin fur dropped somewhat from the 1990-91 season with average price being around $50 and tops at around $90. The 1992 price for lynx was about the same as the 1990-91 season and averaged around $100. Red fox were plentiful, and brought about $20 - this is the same price as last season. Muskrat populations showed an increase from previous years. Most muskrats are trapped in the spring at "push-ups" or feeder houses. With the absence of large numbers of caribou wintering in traditional trapping areas there was more interest and activity in the taking of muskrats on refuge lands this year. Beaver occur in moderate densities throughout the refuge, but little trapping effort takes place for this species. Beaver are generally trapped when they are prime in March or April which makes it difficult because the ice is so thick. Even though prices have improved somewhat, most trappers are discouraged from going after beaver because of the amount of work involved for the price received. What few beaver are taken are usually trapped by natives who then tan them and sew the hides into artifacts for sale. 107 Trapping is still looked upon as an integral part of life to the Alaskan lifestyle, and is still an important economic activity for many rural residents. Table 30. Furbearer harvest on the Tetlin National Wildlife Refuge based on Alaska Department of Fish and Game sealing records. Wolf Wolverine Otter Beaver 1977-78 12 5 5 0 1978-79 5 3 6 0 1979-80 1 5 0 0 1980-81 5 0 0 0 1981-82 7 4 0 0 1982-83 3 3 1 0 1983-84 6 4 1 0 1984-85 2 2 1 29 1985-86 8 4 2 2 1986-87 5 2 0 28 1987-88 1 0 9 4 1988-89 0 1 0 5 1989-90 2 4 0 4 1990-91 24 5 1 13 1991-92 14 1 8 108 11 . Wildlife Observation The Alaska Highway provides limited opportunities for wildlife observation. Although during the 1992 summer season, visitors reported seeing more wildlife than has been seen in the past three years. They often reported seeing gray wolf, lynx, and coyote; informal observation by refuge staff would back these observations. Several locations along the highway are ex cell en t areas for viewing waterfowl. Increased visitation to the state, coupled with the development of our interpretive facilities, has certainly resulted in increased wildlife observation. It is estimated that 25 percent of all Alaska Highway travelers participate in wildlife/wildland photography, and that another 50 percent actively pursue wildlife/wildland observation. The number of non-consumptive recreational users canoeing, rafting and boating on the refuge is experiencing a modest increase. These uses are estimated at 100 user days per year and 800 activity hours. Access on" 7 mile long horse tr<1i l from the Absk I 109 One of the vistas available from the Wellesley Horse Trail after the 1991 Wellesley Fire. TNWR-52, 09-92, EB . 13. Camping The refuge operates two campgrounds, Deadman Lake and Lakeview. Deadman Lake has 16 campsites and Lakeview has eight. Throughout the summer months these small campgrounds are filled to capacity. The interpretive/informational kiosk's at both campgrounds are popular additions as shown by being difficult to keep filled with brochures. In addition to the campgrounds, there is substantial overnight use by recreational and other vehicles at the roadside pullouts. It is estimated that one percent of ) highway travelers overnight at undesignated locations along the refuge's boundary. 110 14. Picnicking There is one official picnic area located along the south side of the Alaska Highway. It is currently under the management of the State of Alaska Department of Transportation but it is maintained by refuge staff through an informal agreement. This and other roadside pullouts are popular picnic areas, as approximately three percent of highway travelers use the sites for this purpose. 15. Off-Road Vehicles Although permitted on designated trails by virtue of the ANILCA, the refuge is closed to off-road vehicles. Limited off-road vehicles use does occur, however, during the hunting season along drainage bottoms. The state has jurisdiction below mean high water mark of all navigable waters. Little or no resultant damage occurs from this limited use. 17. Law Enforcement Most enforcement activities are of a preventive nature through information dissemination and high profile during the hunting season. As in past years, waterfowl hunting parties in the more heavily utilized areas were contacted and regulation changes were discussed. This practice has been found to be extremely useful in gaining compliance. With the waterfowl season opening mid-week and coinciding with moose season, only the diehard waterfowl hunters were found afield. Those checked were found to be most cooperative and in compliance with the 1992 hunting regulations. The refuge law enforcement officers are still dealing with a spring subsistence waterfowl season that is technically illegat but is not enforced under regional policy. Public meetings are being held in the villages of Northway and Tetlin concerning the spring subsistence waterfowl hunting activities. Hopefully these meetings maintain the status quo and there is no significant increase in the taking of spring migrating waterfowl on or near the refuge. Given the current status of waterfowl populations, the continued practice of allowing a spring hunt is extremely hard to justify biologically, even if it is based on cultural and traditional values. The current effort to have the Migratory Bird Treaty amended to allow for a spring waterfowl hunt is felt to be a step in the right direction. RM Breeser participated in Operation White out. The operation was a covert operation dealing with the trade of marine mammals parts for drugs in a number of coastal villages. ARM Schulz was detailed to Yukon Delta National Wildlife Refuge to assist in monitoring of spring waterfowl hunting activities. 111 PR Dapkus successfully completed basic law enforcement training at the Federal Law Enforcement Training Center in Georgia. 18. Cooperating Associations We are in the eighth year of operating an Alaska Natural History Association (ANHA) sales outlet at the refuge, with one open year-around at the Tok headquarters and the main outlet open at the visitor center during its summer season. Sales topped $25,000 in 1992, about the same as in 1990. Highway travelers were at about the same number for each of those years, which may indicate average sales levels to be expected. Sales are summarized in Table 31. Table 31. History of sales for the Alaska Natural History Association sales outlet, Tetlin National Wildlife Refuge, Alaska, 1985-1992. YEAR SALES %CHANGE 1985 875 0 1986 1,122 +28 1987 1,131 0 1988 2,240 +100 1989 14,585 +700 1990 25,423 +74 1991 21,600 -3 1992 25,075 +12 112 I. EQUIPMENT AND FACILITIES 1. New Construction Carpenter /Pilot Carlson, with the able assistance of the rest of the refuge staff and YCC/RAPs crew, was kept busy with a number of new construction projects. Information stations were constructed at Lakeview Campgrounds and at the Hidden Lake Trailhead. Kiosks were built for the Lakeview Campground and Visitor Center but early snows prevented them form being put in place. This display at the Hidden Lake Trailhead was built by Refuge Carpenter /Pilot Don Carlson. TNWR-53. I 113 This display at the Lakeview Campground was also built by Carpenter /Pilot Don Carlson. TNWR-54. Work on the new office space was completed. Counters, sink, shelves and lighting were installed in the work/laboratory area. This area is a welcome and much used addition to the office complex. A 4 by 12 foot table was constructed for the conference room. The luxury of having a well equipped conference room is paying off in many ways. Other agencies have started using the area to conduct their training sessions. In return, one or two of the refuge staff are being allowed to set in of these training sessions. Wooden storage bins and shelving were installed in the new garage. We now have adequate storage space for all of the refuges field and seasonal equipment. A display case to house a full body lynx mount, a hand rail around a full body grizzly bear mount, and two pamphlet display case were built for the APLIC. 2. Reha bili ta tion Work continues on rehabilitating the Northway Bunkhouse and Warehouse Complex. The front deck and loading ramp of the warehouse was replaced with a new and 114 larger cover deck and loading ramp. The post and rope fence along the road were replaced and new flooring was laid in the kitchen area of the bunkhouse. The large wooden storage shed that was previously used to store the refuge's field gear was converted into the refuge's fire cache. It was moved from the Borealis refuge residence into the fenced area at the refuge office complex. All fire equipment is now stored in one place and is readily available when needed. The work area in our leased hanger was revamped. Storage cabinets and workbenches were constructed along the south wall. Enclosed storage shelves were constructed along the north wall. 3. Major Maintenance The deck at the Visitor Center was stripped, sanded and stained with an oil based stain. The deck had been painted with a latex paint that had started to peel off. The entire log surface of the building was given another coating of Rawhide sealant. The logs had started to show signs of discoloring mainly from the sun and dirty little hands. The Borealis refuge residence received considerable amount of work while it was vacant between Refuge Managers. All inside walls were patched and repainted. All rugs were cleaned. The basement walls were sheet rocked, taped and painted. Through a Challenge Grant with the Alaska State Department of transportation, the entrance road to Deadman Campground was completely graded and reshaped and graveled where needed. 4. Equipment Utilization and Replacement This was the year for new vehicles. The refuge received two new Chevy Suburbans to replace the 1986 and 1988 Suburbans, a 3/4-ton Ford pickup to replace the 1986 S-10 Chevy pickup and a 1-ton Chevy crewcab to replace the 1986 Chevy mini-van. The 1988 Suburban was involved in a head-on collision when an International Scout skidded on ice and crossed over the centerline. Fortunately everyone had seatbelts on and no one was hurt, although the Suburban was totalled .. The refuge Type 6 fire engine was placed into service in July. The chassis was purchased in FY91. Through an agreement with BLM at the National Interagency Fire Center in Boise, the chassis was delivered there during the spring of 1992 to be outfitted with a fiberglass utility body and slip on pump unit. After outfitting, the engine was shipped back up to Tok via barge to Anchorage in late June. BLM did an outstanding job outfitting the engine. 115 To help replenish our dwindling stable of snow machines for our lynx project, we were able to replace four of our well used machines with a new Skandic II 503R, two Tundra II LT Skidoos and an Elan Skidoo. Two of the machines are equipped with independent suspension which has made a number of backsides and undersides feel considerably better after daily 66-mile trap line rides. There were six 1 00-hour inspections performed on the refuge's supercub, N3685Z, during 1992. Although we had no major problems with the aircraft, there were a number of minor problems, oil and fuel tank leaks, electrical and magneto problems, that seemed to crop up at critical times when the aircraft time was in high demand. A 206L Jet Ranger Helicopter on contract to the Region was used extensively on the refuge during the summer for communication system maintenance, wildland fire and prescribed fire effects studies, post-fire evaluation activities on prescribed burns and pre-fire plot establishment for planned prescribed burns. ) The Type 6 engine outfitted for the refuge in 1992 has been placed into service as an intcr;:~gency fire suppression resource. It will also be very useful for road-accessible prescribed burn activities on the refuge. TNWR-55, 08-92, EB. I 116 ) The 206L Jet Ranger on regional contract was very useful for communication system maintenance. This is a view across the northern end of the refuge from the UHF-VHF base link site on Bitters Mountain. TNWR-56, 07-92, LAY. 5. Communications Systems The refuge communications system includes a UHF base station at refuge headquarters, a UHF-VHF base link on a mountaintop adjacent to the northern boundary of the refuge, and a VHF repeater site on a mountaintop in the southwest corner of the refuge. Three UHF portable radios with directional antennas were installed at the residences of the refuge manager, assistant refuge manager and fire management officer. These UHF portables emulate the base station, which allow direct con tact after hours between field personnel and refuge staff. A radio telephone interface is installed at refuge headquarters, which allows access to the phone system from anywhere on the refuge via VHF mobile or portable radio. All refuge vehicles and the refuge aircraft are equipped with 14 channel mobile VHF radios, and eight handheld 14 channel VHF radios are available for staff assigned to the field. In addition, the refuge has two handheld VHF aircraft radios which are used during staff field assignments when local air taxi aircraft are chartered for refuge activities. f 117 I The radio system has been very reliable since it was put into service in 1986. However, batteries at the base link and repeater sites are reaching the end of their useful lives and required recharging in February 1992 which involved a costly helicopter charter. New fiber ni-cad replacements were ordered with year-end money in September 1992. Radio coverage is excellent for 95% of the refuge. In fact, the refuge radio coverage and reliability has been so good, that the Tok Area Forestry office has been given authorization to utilize our system during fire emergencies on and adjacent to the refuge because their own system has poor coverage in that area. The refuge telephone system consists of two local lines, a dedicated facsimile machine line, a dedicated radio-telephone interface line, and two dedicated FTS lines. TheFTS lines were activated in November 1992. The refuge currently owns two permanent Remote Automatic Weather Stations (RAWS) and one mobile Remote Automatic Weather Station. One of the permanent stations is located at Milepost 1244 Alaska Highway and one is located southwest of Jatahrnund Lake. The mobile station can be set up at specific prescribed burn sites. All three stations are equipped and programmed to transmit hourly data to a satellite that is a component of the Alask3 Initial Attack Management System (AIAMS). This weather data is archived by the BLM, Alaska Fire Service and can be accessed at any time from refuge headquarters via modern. The weather data sampled and archived includes air temperature, relative humidity, fuel temperature, fuel moisture, wind speed, wind direction, peak wind gust and direction, precipitation and barometric pressure. An incremental encoder and snow pillow were installed at the permanent RAWS at Mile 1244 Alaska Highway in 1992 to allow measurement of the water content of snow as it accumulates. Both permanent RAWS are also equipped with radios and voice synthesizers, and can be accessed directly via VHF mobile or portable radios or the UHF portable radios using the keypad to obtain real time observations. The permanent stations generally operate year round and are accessible either by float/ski plane or vehicle for maintenance. Batteries are kept charged with 50 watt solar panels. Although the permanent stations were obtained by the refuge primarily to provide weather data as part of the statewide AIAMS, the weather information obtained and archived is invaluable for a variety of refuge applications and activities. 6. Computer Systems. The refuge computer system consists of three 386 desktop PC's, two 286 desktop PC's, a 386 Laptop PC, two peripheral sharing devices, a flatbed scanner, two Laserjet printers, a dot matrix printer, and a Paintjet color printer. One of the 386s, one of the Laserjet printers and one of the peripheral sharing devices were received and in corpora ted in to the system in 1992. The system was expanded due to the new office configuration at the refuge headquarters. Three of the desktop PCs and the Laptop that are in use are equipped with moderns. The PC system currently in use on the refuge has been very dependable and flexible enough to meet the evolving needs of the staff. < 118 The Handar Remote Automatic Weather Station near Mile 1244 Alaska Highway owned by the refuge is one of the few stations in Alaska accessible by foot, making repair and maintenance of the station economical and logistically simple. A snow pillow was hauled in and erected at this site in September 1992 to provide information on water content of the snow during the winter months. TNWR-57, 06-92, LAV . I 119 J. OTHER ITEMS 1. Cooperative Programs Cooperation with the Wrangell St. Elias National Park/Preserve continued in 1992. The refuge and park staffs exchange data and use of facilities and meet at least once a year to discuss annual programs. The cooperation paid off again this year when we conducted the lynx study, and the subsistence permit caribou hunt. Good working relationships are essential with the park since it shares a common boundary with the refuge on our southern boundary. A cooperative agreement was developed between the refuge and the State Division of Forestry. The agreement provides for the use of State resources (primarily a helicopter and manpower) on prescribed burns, fuels management projects and fire effects studies on the refuge. No funds were expended through this agreement in 1992. 2. Other Economic Uses The refuge currently has two special use permittees, one for a big game guide/ outfitter and the other for an air taxi operations. Both of these permittee had clients who actively hunted the refuge. A statewide guide policy is being developed, and the refuge is currently under a moratorium disallowing any additional permittees until this new policy is finalized. During 1992 the State of Alaska again failed to develop a new policy. The Service is in the process of formally developing their own Guide Service Policy for all refuge lands in Alaska. This plan is in draft form and is currently out for public review. The Service plans on implementing this new policy for the 1993 season if the State again fails to implement one of their own. The refuge continues to be an important source for the issuance of CITES permits for endangered/threatened animals that will be transported through Canada. This provides the opportunity for refuge staff to see a lot of wildlife not native to Alaska including snakes, tortoises and parrots. Most permits are issued for lynx, wolves, and grizzly bears. 4. Credits This report as usual is the product of a total team effort. ARM Schulz spent a considerable amount of time writing and editing draft versions. Most of the graphics and final formatting were accomplished by FMO Vanderlinden. The artwork on the information packet is courtesy of Sherry Vanderlinden. This narrative was entirely produced on a 386 desktop computer with Microsoft Windows 3.1, Lotus 1-2-3 for Windows, and WordPerfect 5.2 for Windows software. Printing was accomplished 120 on HP Laserwriter III and HP Paintjet XL printers. A postscript cartridge was used in the Laserwriter. The primary typeface is Palatino. Maps were scanned and incorporated into the narrative using an HP Scanjet scanner. STAFF SECTION Refuge Manager Matthews A.;J.4.;K. Assistant Refuge Manager Schulz C.;D.l-4.;E.l.;E.5.;E.7.;H.17.;I.l-4.;I.7.;J.2. Secretary Rallo B.;L. Biologist Doyle D.5.;G.;J.1. FMO Vanderlinden B.;D.2.;D.5.;E.8.;F.;I.5-6.;J.1 Park Ranger Dapkus E.2.;E.4.;H.1-18. Pilot Bohman E.6.;I.3-4. 121 Literature Cited Anonymous. 1991. Trumpeter and Tundra Swan Survey Protocol-1991. U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. Juneau, AK. 4 pp. Conant, B., J. I. Hodges, D. J. Groves, and J. G. King. 1992. The 1990 census of Trumpeter Swans on Alaskan nesting habitats. Pages 133-146 in C. D. Mitchell, J. R. Balcomb, and J. E. Cornely, eds. Proc. and Papers of the Thirteenth Trumpeter Swan Society Conf., The Trumpeter Swan Society, Maple Plain, MN. Cooper, B. A., R. J. Ritchie, B. A. Anderson, and L. C. Byrne. 1991. Alaska Over-The Horizon Backscatter Radar system: A synthesis of the avian research program, 1987-1990. Alaska Biological Research. Fairbanks, AK. 309 pp. Hughes, J. 1984. Distribution, abundance, and productivity of ospreys in interior Alaska. Alaska Department of Fish and Game, Nongame Wildlife Program Report, 13pp. __. 1985. Distribution, abundance, and productivity of ospreys in interior Alaska. Alaska Department of Fish and Game, Nongame Wildlife Program Report, 16pp. __. 1986. Distribution, abundance, and productivity of ospreys in interior Alaska. Alaska Department of Fish and Game, Nongame Wildlife Program Report, 9pp. __. 1987. Distribution, abundance, and productivity of ospreys in interior Alaska. Alaska Department of Fish and Game, Nongame Wildlife Program Report, 9pp. __. 1988. Distribution, abundance, and productivity of ospreys in interior Alaska. Alaska Department of Fish and Game, Nongame Wildlife Program Report, 7pp. __ and J. Wright. 1990. Ospreys in interior Alaska. Annual Report. Alaska Department of Fish and Came, Nongame Wildlife Program Report, 7pp. King, J. G. 1973. The use of small airplanes to gather swan data in Alaska. Wildfowl 24:15-20. Yocum, C. F. 1963. Birds of the Tetlin Lake- Tok Junction- Northway area, Alaska. The Murrelet 44(1):1-6. 122 K. FEEDBACK Changing of the Guard This year saw an historic change for the Tetlin Refuge. Steve Breeser had served this refuge since 1982 starting as Assistant Refuge Manager and becoming Refuge Manager in 1988. In July, 1992 Steve accepted the challenge of starting a new refuge at Lake Umbagog on the Maine/New Hampshire border. While the Service still retains this valuable human resource, the Tetlin Refuge lost not only his expertise, vision, and a good manager, but also a friend. The community of Tok feels the loss, as well, since the entire Breeser family participated in and contributed to community activities. It is hard to describe contributions of an individual because some of them are small but constant and create a working environment filled with trust, respect, joy, and dedication. As the new Refuge Manager, it is hard to try to follow in footsteps this large and deep. The staff are indebted to Steve in many ways and continue to communicate and keep up the friendship at least. The staff have also shown me great support, patience, good humor, and again joy. It appears to be a part of the spirit that lives at Tetlin Refuge, and I appreciate both Steve's. part in it and the rest of the staff. Thank you to all of you. Funding The FY93 budget reflected a decrease in some areas, and an increase in others. The 50% decrease in the wildlife inventory budget is difficult to understand and accept. In fact, with dedicated staff, the limited budget just puts extra strains on an already demanding workload. It's hard to say "No" when you know the work needs to be done, but it is not funded. We hope that in the near future biological inventory work becomes part of the base operation, as it should be, and not subjected to the ups and downs of discretionary project funding. 123 Tetlin Welcome! Recreation Hunting and Fishing The Tetlin National Wildlife Refuge was C'stablished by Recreational opportunities on the refuge include Ducks, caribou, and moose attract most hunters while the Alaska National Interest Lands Conservation Act wildlife observation, sport hunting and fishing, northern pike, burbot, and grayling are the most National (ANILCA) on December 2, 1980. As one of nine new trapping, canoeing and power-boating, and camping. popular sport fish. The deeper lakes generally support Alaskan refuges established by ANILCA, the refuge was Hiking opportunities exist, but are very limited. Scenic pike, while most silty streams host burbot and clear officially recognized as a national treasure. vistas of the refuge are especially good from the refuge streams support grayling. Information on hunting and Wildlife visitor center and interpretive pullouts along the fishing is available from the refuge office In Tok or the This 730,000 acre refuge is located in east central Alaska, adjacent to the Yukon Territory, directly south Alaska High,vay. Check with refuge personnel prior to Alaska Department of Fish and Game (Address: ADF&G, ot the Alaska Highway and north of Wrangell-St. Elias a visit for more detailed information. P.O. 355, Tok, Alaska 99780. Phone 907-883-2971 ). Refuge National Park and Preserve. The major physical features include broad flat river basins bisected by Access Camping rolling hills, extensive marsh and lake complexes, The Alaska llighway providec; access along the Camping is allowed throughout the refuge. The best Visitor Information foothill areas of the Nutzotin and Mentasta Mountains, northern border of the refuge. Foot access is possible undeveloped summertime campsites are on riverbars and two maJOr glacial rivers which combme to iorm along the highway from the Canadian border to or ridges where msects are less of a problem. Choose the Tanana River. Gardiner Creek and at other points. Small boat access sites carefully and be prepared for possible flooding. The primary objectives for Tetlin mclude: conserving is possible from the Alaska Highway at Desper Creek Dry wood 1s usually available on riverbars or in spruce fish and wildlife populations in their natural diversity, and from the Northway Road at the Chisana River stands. Please use dead or downed wood only. providing opportunities for local subsistence users, bridge. There is alc;o a boat ramp at Deadman Lake There are two public campgrounds along the Alaska and providing opportunities for interpretation Campground. Charter air service is available in Tok as Highway operated and maintained by the refuge. and environmental education. well as Fairbanks and Anchorage. Riverboats are These are Lakeview Campground located at Milepost avarlable at Tok and Northway. There are no designated 1256.7 and Deadman Lake Campground at Milepost roads or trails for motorized vehicles on the refuge. 1249.3. • Take Pride in America! Please "pack out what you • pack in " Properly dispose of refuse by burning combustible items and pack out the rest. Fill in firepits and latrines. • Leave a travel plan describing your trip with family • Supplies for camping as well as gas, food, and or friends and do not forget to notify them when you lodging are available in Tok and Northway, Alaska, return. - and Beaver Creek, Yukon Territory, Canada. • Standard precautions should be taken to avoid unwanted encounters with bears. Make noise when --- Weather hiking or walking. Keep a clean campsite and store In June and July daytime temperatures often exceed a/( food items away from tents out of the reach of - - 80°F with nightly lows ro 40°F. By mid-September bears. Do not bul)l garbage or debris. Bur)'ing - daytime temperatures of 45 F and nighttime garbage encourages animals to dig it up and seek - - temperatures oi 25°F are common. Weather can other campsites as sources of food. - - change rapidly. Snow can occur anytime--sometimes • Boil or chemically purify water beiore drinking. - - - :as early as August. Giardiasis is a waterborne intestinal disease common ------in Alaska...... ------For Your Safety and Comfort • Be prepared with headnets and repellent to meet the ------• There are few trails on the refuge which makes famous Alaskan mosquitoes! ------.. - - - - .. ------hiking difficult. Some trails appear on maps but are • Please do not harass animals by venturing within a ~--===- - - =-- difiicult to find on the ground. Maps and a compass few yards to take pictures. Remember that feeding ------are a wise investment for an extended trip into the animals can also be dangerous. ------= - refuge. Topographic maps are available from the U.S. - - - - Geological Survey in Anchorage or Fairbanks and . - - - w - - - - from commercial businesses in Tok. ------·- - - - - ..- - - -- s · - Private Lands and Cabins Interpretive Opportunities Wildlife Tetlin • Large acreages within the refuge have been The Tetlin National Wildlife Refuge Visitor Center, Most wildlife are active just after sunrise and just National Wildlife Refuge conveyed to Native corporations and individuals. If located near the Alaska/Canada border (Milepost before sunset. Traveling along the highway during you want to use private lands be sure to ask 1229), offers a wide variety of interpretive these periods may increase your chances of glimpsing permission. If you are uncertain as to land status, opportunities for visitors. Deckside talks, wildlife some of the Tetlin's wildlife. Stopping to watch quietly • contact refuge personnel. displays and exhibits can all be enjoyed there. An or hiking to vantage points along a river or a ridge may Alaska Natural Hlstory Association sales outlet which also Increase your chances of seeing wildlife. • • Cabins are scattered throughout the refuge. Their /0'7.0 contents are essential to trapperS and subsistence offers books about Alaska's hatural and cultural The refuge has one of the highest densities of nesting _,0 "'-. TOK;-.-..._ resources is a part of the visitor center. The refuge users. Cabins or contents should be used only in an waterfowl in Alaska, and in favorable years produces 25 miles interpretive pullouts along the Alaska Highway provide LEGEND emergency. If you are forced to use a cabin or its about 100,000 ducklings to flight stage. As a migration more information about the area's natural and cultural contents hotify refuge personnel so supplies can be corridor for all types of birds. entering and leaving resources. A kiosk located at the international border Tellln National Wildlife replaced. Failure to replace supplies could cost the Alaska, the refuge provides habitat for 143 nesting --- Refuge Boundary life of a trapper or subsistence user. provides an introduction to the Yukon Territory and species of birds and 47 migrants. TRUMPETER Alaska, and tells about the Alaska-Canada Highway. //1 Native & State Conveyed SWANS migrate through and an increasing number '---::...... :'-'. or Selected Land The refuge staff also offers other interpretive programs also nest in the refuge. BALD EAGLES, OSPREYS, and for visitors and assist5 schools and other groups other raptors may also be observed. 1f. NORTHWAY ._I__ __.J Tetlin Refuge Land interested in outdoor classroom experiences. In addition, the Alaska Public Lands Information Center Both BlACK and GRIZZLY BEA.RS are found on the TETLIN INDIAN UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF INTERIOR Campground in Tok offers wildlife displays and trip planning refuge. Bears are unpredictable and should always be RESERVE a FISH AND WILDLIFE SERVICE information. considered dangerous especially sows with cubs. mP icnic Area MOOSE are popular, year-long residents of the refuge. * Roadside Interpretive Exhlbit As the Nation's principal conservation agency, the Keep a respectable distance, however. Moose can also ORTflWAY' Department of the Interior has basic responsibi lity be dangerous. Cows have been known to charge ~ Alaska-Canada Border Kiosk for water, fish, wildlife, mineral, land, park, and persons who have gotten too close to their calves. 0 recreational resources. lndJan and territorial affairs north are other major concerns of America's CARIBOU are primarily winter residents and are easily "Department of Natural Resources!' seen along the highway during that season. WOLVES are comnion throughout the area but are The Department works to assure the wisest cho1ce 0 5 10 15 ~t> wary and therefore seldom seen. ~ ~ in managing all our resources so each will make ...... ======-...... ~ its full contribution to a better, United States - BEAVERS, MUSKRATS, and their lodges can be found - now and in the future. on Tetlin's ponds, lakes, and streams. A quiet observer can watch these animals go about their work. Total acreage within refuge: 730,000 + AC. FOR MORE INFORMATION: Other small mammals, such as FOXES and HARES are commonly seen along the highway. r-~sl} Tetlin NWR Refuge Manager Visitor Center With a little luck you may be able to spy some of these ,. ..,.., A. I -l'o Tetlin National Wildlife Refuge ~ '-1· ~ .,,, 0 Box 155 animals in your travels through the Tetlin NWR and · J /I c'fl0 • Tok, Alaska 99780 Telephone: (907) 883-5312 Alaska! Watch, take pictures, and enjoy, but please do Jotoilmund not disturb thern. I Lake BUY DUCK STAMPS 1\ Mentasta SAVE WETLANDS FOR WILDLIFE ~"A'"· < - ----::1\ t c '"",.__~.;.__ c?' --~ < -- ______------Wellesley z Lakes < ..... 0 WRANGELL-ST. ELIAS NATIONAL PARK & PRESERVE ••• @ prmted on recycled paper Nutzotln Mountains GPO 1986 694~ • • • • TETLIN NATIONAL WILDLIFE REFUGE Welcome to the Great Land Why are many visitors similar to rocks in the Tetlin National Steve Breeser by Wildlife Refuge? They come from "down South''! elcome to the Great Land - W Alaska, and welcome to the Tetlin National Wildlife Refuge. Alaska is great not only in its size, resources, and people, GEOLOGY but also in its unspoiled natural ecosystems-most of which haven't by Stephanie Hoag changed since humans first settled in this harsh environment. The federal and state eologists think of Alaska as a government have set aside millions of Ggiant jigsaw puzzle made up of acres of land for the express purpose of many "terranes" or pieces that have protecting and preserving the natural moved in at different rates from bounty that currently exists for the different places. The ancient core of enjoyment of you and all future Alaska is a relatively small. part of generations. the state that lies north of here, One of these natural areas that was set between the YUkon and Porcupine aside in 1980 was the Thtlin National Rivers. As you drive along the Wildlife Refuge. For 65 miles, from the Alaska Highway, you are driving on Alaska-¥ukon border to Midway Lake, the the piece known as the Yukon Crys northern boundary of the refuge is the talline Terrane. It extends from Alaska Highway. The Thtlin is one of 16 Nenana and Fairbanks eastward into wildlife refuges that occur in Alaska. This Banding 'Irumpeter Swan Cygnets on the 'let/in Photo courtesy of Bill Bohman. Canada, and is bounded on the north refuge is the second smallest in Alaska by tbe ...Titina Fault near the Yukon exceeding 730,000 acres. Some of the River, and on the south by the Denali larger refuges are almost 20 million acres. habitat, it provides important habitat for and many other species. Fault. This piece of crust originated That's larger than many of the states in the many other migratory birds, as well as There are two distinctions that set the hundreds of miles south of the "lower 48~' furbearers, big game, and fish. Tbe river Tetlin aside from most other refuges in present position, then slid northward This area was set aside primarily for the valleys, foothi11s , and mountains contain the state. First, this refuge and the Kenai along the Titina Fault until it became conservation of a nationally significant moose, caribou, Dall sheep, grizzly bear, Wildlife Refuge are the only two National welded into place alongside Alaska's waterfowl production area. However, black bears, wolves, wolverine, bald ancestral core. because of its size and varied eagles, golden eagles, trumpeter swans, Continued on back (page 8) Most of the rocks in the Yukon Crystalline Terrane are schists, and you may see that type of rock on the north side of the highway just past History Around the Tetlin Northway Junction. The rocks you by Kris Thorsrud preneurs played an essential role in the see along most of this section of settlement of Alaska's eastern Interior. highway, however. are more recently - istoric exploration and senlement They helped expand trade routes. and formed granitic rocks. They were H oftheupperTanana region began in introduced local Athabaskan people to created as molten Lava pushed up the the late l800s. Previously, during Rus tools, food, and methods not seen overlying rocks and cooled slowly sian and European exploration of Alaska before. underground. in the 1700s, the upper Tanana was iso In l913, the Cbisana Stampede As you enter Alaska and drive lated from explorers and missionaries. In attracted thousands of gold seekers. Indi toward Northway, you are following the 1870s, trader Leroy McQuesten trav vidual stampeders traveled the land, the Denali Fault, which lies to the eled through Alaska's eastern Interior, corning in contact with the local people, south of the highway. You can spot making contact with resident Athabaskan wildlife, and geography of tbe land. the fault by looking for sections of a Indians and the rew individual white gold In the early 1900s, the Athabaskan Cabin at Moose Creek. north-facing bluff. It is one of Alas seekers. In 1885, Lt. Henry T. Allen, Indians began the change from a semi Photo courtesy of Tetlin NWR. ka's largest faults and extends west Second U.S. Cavalry, and party made nomadic hunting and gathering lifestyle ward past Mt. McKinley. The land their way north from the Copper River to a village-based way of life. The 1920s were some of the many regularly used on the south side of the fault has area through Tetlin and on to the Thnana brought the first boat motor to the vil sites for duck hunting. Prominent hills slowly moved westward in"relation and Yukon Rivers, recording the first lages: the 1960s brought snowmachines. provided excellent lookout sites for ship to the nortbern side. In very official exploration in this area. In 1898, In 1942, the Alaska-Canada Military moose and caribou. Fish camps were recent years there has not been much the U.S. Geological and Geographical Highway was completed. This project, located along the banks of the area's movement along the fault, but it is Survey sent an expedition up the White spurred on by World War U, opened up rivers. Remnants of winter beaver estimated that the land has moved as River and over to the Tanana River via the upper Tanana region to development camps, muskrat trapping camps, and car much as 753 feet since the last ice age Snag and Mirror Creeks. In the early more than any preceding event. Since the ibou fences can still be found throughout ended about20,000 years ago. While l900s, white traders-Captain North opening of the Alaska Highway, settle the Refuge. Pack and foot trails wind their this seems very slow, it can add up way, Herman Kissler, Ted Lowell, Milo ment and development of Alaska's east way across the Nutzotin Mountains, to over geologic time. Sixty million Hadjdukovitcb among others-estab ern Interior has steadily progressed. the White River from Mentasta to Tetlin, years ago, if Mt. McKinley has lished trading posts along the banks and Historical hunting and fishing sites are to Chisana, and north to the historic mounts of the Nabesoa. Chisana. Tetlin, located throughout Refuge lands. Tetlin Continued on back (page 8) and Tanana Rivers. These frontier entre- Lake, Gasoline Lake. and Butterfly Lake Continued on back (page 8) • 2 • The Tetlin Passage Wildflowers Along the Alcan A Drive Through Evening Primrose Lane by Jim Sisk Anemone ;. l..abradDr Tea 1=====- ·-;':c======;r======~ ======r======\'' "c:_=====r======-' ======l pring and summer in Alaska is AlpfM Blt~eberry Fire weed ing along the edge of the forest. Sbrief and the growing season for As June wears on into July, the plants is compacted into a few short roadsides in some areas become a months (May-September). The ma true Evening Prirn.-ose Lane. The jority of wildflowers bloom from two species of Fireweed (Epilobium late May to mid-August and, for the angustifolium and E. pilobium /ati highway traveler, provide a colorful folium) provide a profusion of tall foreground to the majestic views of member of the Phlox family. This identified as Labrador Tea (Ledum spikes and low clumps of magenta distantrivers and mountains. The di plant is many branched with divided palustre). The leaves are duU gray along the disturbed roadside areas. versity of wildflowers is not as great leaves and the large flowers are in above and covered with brownish The Prickly Rose adds its pinks on in Alaska as in warmer climates, but clusters at the end of the short hairs on the in-roUed underside. tall spiny stems to the scene. The the blooming season is short and branches. Another member ofthe Heath family pale but striking yellow of flowers most species are in bloom at the A stop and short walk back from occurs in the same area. The shrub that seem to have no stem and can be same time. Very early travelers will the disturbed areas adjacent to the with tough grayish leaves and small seen on steep banks and dry meadow find only the willows, alders, and a highway will allow sightings of white drooping globes for flowers is areas belong to the Alaskan Poppy few sedges in blossom in April. many plants in bloom during June. In Leatherleaf with the unique Latin (Papaver alaskanum). Short walks A traveler on a trip through the low and wet areas, the drooping pink name Chamaedaphne calyculata! In into the forests or down into the bogs interior of Alaska during the period globes of the Bog Rosem!lry late June suitable ponds will float the and wet areas will allow you to of May through June will fmd many (Andromeda polifolia) grace the huge yeUow blossoms of the Water encounter many more beautiful and ofour most beautiful flowers provid edges of ponds and wet tussocks. Lily (Nuphar polysepalum). The striking flowers. June and July are ing a blue and white carpet with Arctic Sweet Coltsfoot (Petasites fri magenta Bog Laurel (Kalmia polifo the months when the great majority enough pink and yellow highlights to gidus) also blooms in the low and wet lia) and the Bog Blueberry (Vacci of plants bloom in Alaska. draw attention. One of the earliest areas. Tbe blossoms appear before nium uliginosum) will also be found For information about wild showy plants found along the high the leaves and are white to pinkish in in these low moist to wet areas. Ripe flowers , their identification and way is the Pasque flower (Anemone clusters at the top of bare stalks one blueberries may be picked in late uses, you can stop at the Visitor In patens), a low-growing, blue to pur to two feet tall. The bright yellow August in these same areas. formation Center in Tok and inquire ple buttercup that often pushes up Marsh Marigold (Caltha palustris} The pea family provides the trav about the availability of field guides, through the remaining snow to can also be found on the edges of eler with some of the showiest road resident experts, or management bloom. A white cousin of the Pasque small ponds. 1\vo orchids can be side flowers in Alaska. The pink to agencies with in-depth information flower that blooms at the same time found in wet areas: the single blos red Licorice root (Hedysarum alpin about vegetation habitats, photogra but prefers mossy areas in light soms of Northern Lady's SJipper urn) and red-flowered Northern phy, and locations for field trips. shade is the Northern Anemone (Cypripedium passerinum) are Sweet-vetch (Hedysanurz mackenzii) Observing and learning about wild (Anemone parviflora). This butter white, as are the clustered spike of are interspersed with the blue Arctic flowers is quite inexpensive and can cup has spreading white petals that flowers on Hooded Ladie's Tresses Lupine (Lupinus arctica) and the be a very rewarding experience for have a bluish tint on the back. (Spirno.thes romanzoffiana). On top purple Showy Crazyweed (Oxytro the Alaskan traveler. We sincerely Another light blue flower of the June of the tussocks between the ponds, a pis splendens). The drooping Blue hope you have a pleasant and reward roadside is Showy Jacob's Ladder shrub with clusters of beautiful bells (Mertensia paniculata) of the ing experience along this Evening (Polemonium pulcherrimum), a white and fragrant flowers can be Borage family can be found bloom- Primrose Lane. BIROB • 4. I spend the entire year in Alaska and can be seen in the coldest day of win ter with my wedge-shaped tail and shaggy throat feathers. 3. I have more than 30 distinct vocalizations, but am well known for my deep resonant "KAW." 2. I am fairly smart, as birds go, and so are my cousins-jays, magpies. and crows. 1. I am the largest songbird and all--black bird in the world. Who ami? ______-=------~~--~----~~~· Score: - ·· ' Be a Bird Detective • BIRDC Adapted from the game 4. I can be found in the spruce-birch forests throughout Alaska. 3. My sole winter food Is spruce needles and on fall mornings you can see me by John Warden by lake shores, streams, and roads finding grit to grind the needles in my Birds are fascinating to observe. More than 150 species of birds may be found on the gizzard during winter months. 2. The rusty-orange band at the top of my dark-brown tail sets me apart from Tetlin Wildlife National Refuge. Songbirds, shorebirds, and waterfowl, especially my relatives. ducks, are plentiful during the summer months. Can you identify some of the birds you 1. 1 am also called by names like Franklin's grouse, Spruce hen. and Fool's may see on the refuge by their color or markings, where they live, what they eat? Why hen. not try your luck at the following game and find out? Whoami?------~------ Score: How to Play Each bird has four clues to help you find the right answer. Start at the top and read BIRDO 4. I swtm low In the water and have a daggerlike bill. only the first clue. Fill in the answer ifyou know it. If you are unable to identify the bird 3. When alarmed, 1prefer diving for safety instead ot flying and can stay under • on the first clue, proceed to the second clue, then the third clue, and finally the fourth water more than a minute. clue. If you are still not able to identify it, proceed to the next set of clues. 2. I am a sleek-looking bird wtth a dark head and body, white striped breast, Scoring is based on identifying the birds in the fewest number ofclues. The object is and white speckles on my back. to get the highest number of points by totaling all the individual sets of clues when you Who1. I make ami? a ______yodelling call on my breeding grounds along lakes in Alaska. __ finally have the correct answer. For example, ifyou identify the bird on the first clue, you would score4points. If you did soon the second clue, you would get3 points. You'd get2 S¢ore: points for the third clue, 1 point for the last due, and no points if you couldn't find an answer. BIROE 4. I prefer shallow marshes or mud fiats when looking for food which usually are insects, mollusks. and small seeds of aquatic plants. BIRD A 3. 1am the smallest duck. (about the size of a pigeon) in Alaska and one of the 4. I eat about 20 pounds of aquatic vegetation a day, like tubers and seeds. swiftest fliers. 3. I am known by my loud, "French horn-like" call. 2. The drakes of my species are extrem~ly colorful, they have a cinnamon-red 2. I am the world's largest member of the waterfowl family and the emblem of head, green eye stripe and their speculum (the mtddle feathers in the wing) the Tetlin National Wildlife Refuge. ou~ is green. 1. My lifelong mate and I have all-white plumage and young are called 1. I am also called a common teal and greenwmg. cygnets. Who am I? ·"' ,; '· '· . Whoami? ·~------~----~~~-~------~------~-- Score· . Score: See back page (page 4) for scoring and answers to " The Bird Detective." • 3 The Tetlin Passage • WILDLIFE HABITAT MANAGEMENT The Role of Fire by Larry Vanderlinden key purpose for which Tetlin Na accomplished. If these and other condi A tional WHdlife Refuge was estab tions are met, the prescdbed bum is lished and is currently managed is "to ignited by a trained team of specialists. conserve fish and wildlife populations There is no singular use of the refuge and habitats in their natural diversity." by the public. Subsistence and recrea For millennia, fire has played an impor tional users alike are afforded opportu tant role in maintaining a natural diver nities to enjoy and utilize the resources sity of habitats in boreal ecosystems. available. Fire is a key ingredient in Today, frre is the most important tool continuing the balance of utilization and available on Tetlin National Wildlife conservation for plant and animal re Refuge for maintaining the natural di sources on the refuge. versity of wildlife habitats. If you do see smoke as you travel How is fire used as a habitat manage along, above or through the refuge, you menttool? may very weU be seeing habjtat manage Interagency fire management plans ment at work. On the other band, it may have been developed which allow for a be an unreported wildfire. Just to make range of suppression responses to wild sure appropriate action is taken, report land fires that occur on fue-prone lands any fires on the refuge to Refuge Head in Alaska. Planned responses are estab quarters in 1bk (883-5312) or the State lished for broad areas based on land Division of Forestry Fire Dispatch Of management objectives established by fice (883-5134). the land manager, and resource values that may be at risk or threatened should a fire start in that area. Thus, on Tetlin ResuHs of Fire Management National Wildlife Refuge, wildland ftres • which occur near populated or devel oped areas are aggressively suppressed, • The mosaic created by the long while wildland fires which occur in term occurrence of fire provides stable remote areas where wildlife habitat can availability of habitats to support the be enhanced by their occurrence receive greatest diversity of plants and animals a monitoring response. As long as the on the refuge. remote ftres do not threaten to spread into developed areas or create a smoke • The probability of large catastroph problem, they will continue to be moni ic fires occurring is reduced because the tored with no other suppression action vegetation mosaic created by smaller taken. ftres over a long period of time tends to The refuge also bas an active pre limit ftre spread. scribed fire program. Every year, de ~aHed prescribed burn pljUls fire ..}'{riJ:tcrn • Tax dollars are conserved by not for specific areas with specific objec spending large amounts of money to tives. Objectives for prescribed burns aggressively suppress fires in remote on the refuge are normally linked to areas. improving wildlife habitat, enhancing habitat diversity, or hazard reduction. • Suppression resources can concen "Prescriptions" are developed which trate on protecting developed or inhabited specify the range of environmental con areas and quickly put out destructive ditions under which each bum will be Fire Managemem Officer Larry Vanderlinden ignites a prescribed burn on the refuge. fires that occur in these areas. TETLIN NATIONAL WILDLIFE REFUGE FAC IS OF INTEREST Date established: December 2, 1980 by the Alaska National Interest Lands Naturalist Activities Conservation Act • Size: At 730,000 acres, it is the second smallest of 16 Alaska refuges Tetlin NWR VIsitor Center Taiga Trail Milepost 1229 Alaska Highway 314 Mile Loop Nature li'all Temperatures: Record high +960f' on June 15, 1969 Open DaiJy Deadman Lake Campground Record low -70"F on January 17, 1971 7:00a.m. to 7:00p.m. Milepost 1249 Alaska Highway Elevations: Range from 1650 ft. above sea level to 8040 ft. above sea level Interpreters Choice Frost dates: Average last frost-late May, average first frost-late August Deckslde Nature Talks Wildlife Movies Tetlin NWR Visitor Center Tok Alaska Public Lands Birds: 190 species use the refuge including bald eagles, loons, osprey, ptarmigan, Daily Information Center sandhill cranes, and trumpeter swans Daily 9:00, 10:00, 11:00 a.m. Mammals: 44 species use the refuge: key species are moose, caribou, Dall sheep, 2:00, 3:00, 4:00, 5:00 p.m. grizzly and black bear, wolf, lynx Tetlin NWR Headquartenl · Tok, Alaska Fish: 14 species; game fish include Northern pike, Arctic grayling, burbot Open Monday-Friday 8:00 a . m .~Noon Plants: This is the "taiga'' forest. which is Russian meaning the "land of little sticks". 1:00 p.m.-5:00p.m. Alaska Highway The small evergreen trees which make up this forest are black spruce which Interpretive StatiOns may be 150 years old at 3 inches in diameter and 12 feet in height. White spruce Mileposts 1224 1227 1243 1252 are the "larger" evergreens. Paper birch, balsam popular, and quaking aspen c8mpflre~k are the main leafy trees. Most flowers bloom during June and July. 1269 1273 1289 Deadman Lake Campground 7:00 Mountain Ranges: Nutzotin Mts. and Mentasta Mts. Fridays p.m. Major Rivers: Chisana and Nabesna rivers which join to form the Thnana River Dlecovery Hlll8 Alaeka Public Lands Meets at The Tetlin NWR along with Wrangell-St. Elias National Park & Preserve in Alaska, and li'lfonnatlon Center Tok Alaska Public Lands Kluane National Park and Kluane Game Sanctuary in the Yukon Territory of Canada, Tok, Alasf ! 1 4 GATEWAY TO INTERIOR ALASKA ALASKA PUBLIC LANDS Sourdough INFORMATION CENTER Campground The Stage Stop Bed & Breakfast Grizzly Hayner's Auto Trading Post Dept. af Boreal Backpacking Transportation Tok Adventures Soil ball Field Oepl. of w Natural Resources ~ Tok a: Open Daily 8:00 a.m.-8:00p.m. Clinic 0 TokAre ::r: Dept WILDLIFE MOVIE PROGRAMS u z 9, 10, 11 A.M. 2, 3, 4, 5 P.M. C( Senior Citkens Center g .___...;.TO.;;;.;K~AIRPORT AI can Air Golde11 Bear Canwround and Gift Shop Tok Tok, Alaska Lodge tt g Don's Tok Mini ::» Store Man u ~ Tok Safeway c Jack Wade ~- Gold g f!c 0(1 '0"' ..:.: "'o c-{2 '- u"' ;!;a, ~(ij 1E ft!CI) -c tJ>C Ec rf.2 '!: ... -""' - 0>2 -c.,_"' 0 -CI) ..::·- .2 C> E: .,co ~ .X - ~- =>I ::JOJ: "' ~ &."' co :::;; >-O " ALASKA HIGHWAY TO FAIRBANKS '- c .,_ ., ., ., ~ .,.,•_ >-"' 't) 0 • c ,.O> ::;:.:., '- ..... f! >- oiS ,XC -c .s 't:IQ) ~ ... >-., -"'-OlG> "'"'0<11 t/)C 'Ol -::> ., .t)U> ., f! -E ~0 2' ·;; "'C g::J "' "' E lrns c:- ::J ., -- u::> ~ ~c ~Qj c- "'"'"'3: ::>::> .Cil E ~1: 0. om ., ., :X c:as - :g:i =>o ::JO -"'= 8lll _j~ z E ..;(!) -'t) c a: "'"'c::;;; ~~ W!j ~:::;; E"E :r_g F"' ""C 8 s:: ·- "'=>oo .,co ~~ ns., '-~ {l> 1'1g 00) ... o .c E'- ~ .2'> w >. a. ... .c! ~:g ~., .,., ~:r 0 1Wenty thousand years ago Interior the breeze. As you watch them, a Once an animal dies it is unusual for they would have easHy overgrazed valleys Alaska looked drastically different than movement along a grassy slope catches any bones to remain after a few years. in a short time. The m ammoth the boreal forest you see around you your eye. You turn and glimpse a lion, yes! However, in some instances, a small disappeared approximately 12,000 years today. There were no forests, swamps or a lion moving intently towards a herd of percentage of scattered bones are buried ago. muskeg bogs. I n fact, if you gazed across unsuspecting steppe bison. lt kind of by silt during spring runoffs and this country then all you would see would reminds you of the African plains, preserved. T his silt layer, called "muck:' is STEPPE BISON be an endless, arid grassland called certainly not Alaska and certainly not in turn buried through the ages. Some of Bison bones are those most commonly "steppes~· In geologic terms il was called what we see today. Lhese bones are eventually exposed found. The steppe bison Ianged across the P leistocene (ply sto seen). We know it But this was Alaska and this was the through meanderings of streams or rivers. Eurasia and was the ancestor to the as the Ice Age. Thtlin Refuge and t here WERE lions, T hicker and denser bones are the ones smaller modem bison. The steppe bison A cartographer of lee Age Alaska bison, elephantine beasts, camels, most usually found, such as skulls and the lacked the wattle under the chin and the would have included this area in Asia, not antelope, and cheetahs roaming the thick leg bones of larger mammals. black leg colorings (pantaloons) that our North America. For you see, interior country side. Though all these animals are Fossilized bones of Interior Alaska are bison has today. rt has only been extinct Alaska was separated from the North familiar, they were also somewhat rarely mineralized, but are naturally for about 500 years. American cominent by a massive ice different. Male lions didn't have manes, refrigerated so most of their original sheet, but connected to Asia by a land bison were much larger in size and horns, material remains. Sometimes, in case of a DALL'S SHEEP bridge exposed by lowered seas. and moose had larger antlers. complete freezing process, flesh and fur Mountain sheep we now know as DaU's Most of the Tetlin National Wildlife Other creatures dotted the landscape. can even survive. The bones sometimes sheep were common during the lee Age. Refuge was part of that grassland. Some were familiar - caribou, mountain look fresh and can be easily mistaken for We tendto think of Dall's sheep traversing sheep we now catl Dall's sheep, and rrotected by mountains to the south, a recent moose or caribou kill, although high mountain slopes1 but 20,000 years which were encased in a huge wall of wolves, while some are no longer found in they are usually stained the color of the ago they frequented the grasslands and glacial ice, a much warmer, but drier Alaska but survive elsewhere - the saiga organicsoil that buried them. lower elevations climate prevailed. ru the braided Tanana antelope, elk, and wild horses. Other The lee Age fossils are proof of nature's River meandered along the valley floor, animals are only fossil remains, becoming constant cbange. Those glorious creatures BEAVER the "steppes", of the ancient Tetlin became extinct long ago- the giant ground sloth, will never again grace the lands of the The beaver is still one of the familiar a refuge for some amazing and wonderful the short-faced bear, and the saber Tetli n Refuge, but perhaps some day other faces on the Tetlin after all these years. animals. toothed cat. strange and wonderful creatures may What makes tlus find unique is an intact appear walking through this land. beaver skull is extremely Iare. The small, delicate bones were usually eaten by Pleistocene Cre~JC ures of tbe Tetlin lee Age Ireasures WOOLLY MAMMO'rH animals before being preserved or crushed The easiest way to see the differences lt's an exhilarating experience to Mammoths were about the size of by river action as the skull was exposed during the lee Age is to examine the discover a fossilized bone, to know that it Asian elephants, although they looked a from the bank. creatures who once roamed the Tetlin was once part of a live animal that roamed bit different because their shoulders were Refuge. It was a hodge-podge of animals, along the ridges and valleys where you considerably taller than their rump. Their PLEISTOCENE HORSE some not recognizable, others a bit more now are. Jt's interesting to imagine what Long, [lowing, dark hair made them The horse found in Alaska long ago was familiar. Lhis fossil could tell us - what was it like ideally suited for the cold Interior winters. about the size of a Shetland pony.lt had lmagine a herd of great woolly back in the lee Age, how many summers They were grass eaters, and like today's a large head and uprightmane and its fur mammoths as they slowly graze upon the and winters has it been buried before the elephants ate about 4 bales a day. This was a reddish buff color, much like the steppes, their long dark hair blowing in sun warmed it once again. probably made the herds nomadic, for modem wild horses of Central Asia. • • ran - tas NATIONAL PARK & Visiting Wrangell-St. Elias NATIONAL PARK & PRESERVE here are many ways to experience the mile uphill walk to the privately-owned T U.S~s largest national park. The historic Kennecott mining complex. For following information will help you those who'd rather not walk, shuttle rides decide on a park adventure to fit your are available through the local lodges. interests. FUGBTSEEING-Even a short flight BY ROAD-1\vo unpaved roads pene over the Wrangellswill convince you that trate the park. The northern portion of this is a spectacular mountain wilderness. the park can be reached via the Nabesna Charter aircraft are available in most Road. From Slana on the Tok Cutoff, it communities including Northway, Tok, extends 46 miles to Nabesna, an inactive Glennallen, Valdez and McCarthy. A ijst privately-owned mining community. of air taxi operators is available at Caribou, moose, bear, sheep and . information centers. waterfowl may be seen from the road. HIKING-Most backpackers and Check at the Slana Ranger Station for the dayhikers start from points along the latest road conditions and to pick up a Slana-Nabesna or Chitina-McCarthy Nabesna Road Guide. roads. There are few trails, so most hiking In the heart of the park lies the 61-mile is across what appears to be previously Chitina to McCarthy Road. This road untraversed terrain. Descriptions of the Russell Glacier in the St. Elias Mountains. In the background are Mt. Bona (16,421 ') follows the old Copper River and most common routes and information on and MI. Churchill (15,638'). Photo by George Herben. Northwestern Railroad route. Moose, current conditions are available at park bear, sheep and bald eagles may be seen. ranger stations. High clearance, two-wheel drive vehicles MOUNTAINEERING-The park's kayaking opportunities. The 77 -mile trip Note: airplanes may not be used to can usually make the trip in summer but many glaciers, icefields, rivers, and steep down the Copper from Chitina to the Gulf support subsistence hunting in the park. check with the Chitina Ranger Station for rock walls present endless challenges for of Alaska takes rafters through some of Snowmachines, horses and dog teams current road conditions and McCarthy mountaineers. Mounts Drum, Sanford, the park's most rugged terrain. Guided may be used without a permit. Road Guides. Blackburn, and St. Elias are favorites for whitewater and ocean kayak trips are HUNTING AND FISHING-You must The trip takes about four hours and climbing expeditions. Guided trips are available. have an Alaska license to sport bunt or ftsh ends at the Kennicott River. You then must available. OI'HER-Private pilots may land on in the national preserve. Check with a hand-power a cable tram across the river WHITEWATER-The Copper and any of the bush airstrips without a permit. ranger station for seasons and location to McCarthy. From McCarthy it's a four Chitina rivers offer excellent rafting·and Ask about strip conditions beforehand. information. Local guides ll.(e available. • PARK FACTS W rangell-St. Elias is the: North America (the Malaspina, at of Dall Sheep in North America • largest U.s7 national park over 800 square miles, is larger than (about 19,000 animals). (13.2 mil1ion acres). the state of Rhode Island). • two caribou herds (Mentasta and • largest designated wilderness in • the largest non-polar icefield in Chlsana). U.S. (9.6 million acres). North America (Bagley Icefield). • both grizzly and black bears. • designated Worlc;l Heritage Site • the northernmost active volcano • the northernmost population of wfth Kluane National Park in in North America (Mt. Wrangell, mountain goats. Canada. 14,163 '). • nesting bald and golden eagles. • nine peaks over 14,000' and 14 • introduced herds of bison. Geography over 10,000 ' • over 200 bird species. The Park is The park and preserve contains: • four major mountain ranges located on one of the major flyways • the second highest peak in U.S. (Wrangell, St. Elias, Chugach and for migrating birds in Alaska. (Mt. St. Elias-18,808 '). Alaska). • the longest inland glacier in North America (Nabesna Glacier is Wildlife The Wrangell Mountains are world about 70 miles long). The park and preserve has: renowned for large Doll rams. Photo • the largest piedmont glacier in • one of the largest concentrations by Robert M. Butterfield. What is a National Chamber of Commerce VIsitor Information Center-Located in Park & Preserve? TETLIN NATIONAL the log cabin at the junction of the • Glenn and Richardson highways. WILDLIFE REFUGE he Alasl The Tetlin Passage 11 • Draw a line to match each animal with its • 10 • 9 T KS! • 8 1. 15··~ A. ~ ~ 7 16 •~ 2. ~ • 19 21 • ~~ ~~' -~~ • 6 ~~ ~...._ '~t 4 3. ~"~'t. 5 • • 17 24. - •- 23 ~~ 3 c . • 2 • • • • 27 28 26 4. D. TlUsbird has a sharp, hooked bill and talons for catching fish. . . Connect the dots to fmd an. . . OSPREY E. (from Alaskan Wildlife Week, 1984) 173 pue ca 'so ·~a 'ev :sJeMsuv Fascinating Facts . ' • • I ' ne-halt of the world's population lack spruce trees (the small of sandhill! cranes (200,000 birds} tiny boreal chickadee is a hearty little bird. Unlike most birds stunted evergreens seen through migrate through the upper Tanana out interior Alaska) live a hard life Valley each spring on their way to who migrate south for the winter, the chickadee stays here the year on permafrost soils. A two-inch nesting grounds across interior Alaska! diam~ter round, surviving temperatures to 70 tree may be nearly 100 degrees below zero! years old! r.I"~ h~ c: Tetlin National Wildlife Refuge lack spruce trees need fire to --ru in eastern Alaska is the northern produce new seedlings! The seed han is black not black? Black most breeding range for several' inside a black spruce cone is held •\-,I may not be black when referring to birds including the ruddy duck, the '-thr(;7;in place by resins until tire burns blal:k bears. Black bears come in · sora rail, the chipping sparrow, the · 1 a forest releasing the many color phases including cinna redwing blackbird, the American seeds and producing new seed mon, brown, black, white or cream, coot and the yellow-bellied lings in the burn'ed areal • and occasionally even blue! sapsucker! • v Wetland • Can you find these words? _ River Otter - Mallard _ Water - _ Loon - GOose _ Muskrat • - MOose _ Swan - Wetland - Duck - _ Wildlife Eagle • • -- • • - Habftat - Rivers _ Sedge - (Words may be wriHen up, down, backwards and diagonally) • • 7 The Tetlin Passage OBSERVING WILDLIFE Along the Alaska Highway by Terry Doyle s you travel along the Alaska high between wintering and breeding A way you rna) be surprised by the grounds. The best season tO \iew birds in lack of wildlife. But tfyou look carefully this area is the breeding season of May you will see many bird species, and and June. It 1~ during this season mal perhaps a beaver or moose. most birds are acth-ely smgmg and dis Most wildlife "Pecies are secretive in playing and can be mo~t easily found . lt is nature and not easily seen. This is under also the time ofyear when birds are most standable because for many of these spe brightly colored Through July and cies their life depends on it. Species lhar August birds become more secretive and live off of other spectes are called preda less colorfuJ. Some species of birds tors. the species they live off ofare called become more visible as they begin tO prey. Most speci~ are prey to some group up in preparation for fall migra predator and so it becomes tmponant to tions. August is a good time to see migrat be secretive when danger threatens. mg greater white-fronted and Canada On the other hand it is in the predators geese, September is a good time ro see interest to also be secretive so they can migrating sandhill cranes and October an sneak up on their prey so that they can excellent time to see migrating trumpeter survive. It is a constant banle for both the and tundra swans. Mammals also make prey and the predators to survive. No seasonal movements but their movements wonder it can be so hard to find some are more specific to the individual spe species! cies than are birds. Some people seem lucky and see dif BuU Moose. There are 192 bird species and 44 species ferent wildUfe species almost without of mammals that occur on or near the trying. But if you want to rely on more Tetlin National WildJife Refuge. But you than luck you must begin to think like the only have a day in the area to seewildJife, wildlife. Osprey. not a lifetime. In the map below are some One of the first things to think about is Photo by Craig Perham. spots near the highway that support a a home. Most wildlife species have very large number of species or are a reliable specific homes or habitats that they live place to conveniently see a particular in. For instance it is much easier to find a spec1es.• moose in a patch of thick brush along a waterway than it is in a thick spruce There are various interpretive and forest. That is because moose feed on a picnic puUoffs along the road where combination of shrubs and aquatic vege songbirds and small mammals may be ration during the summer but rarely feed Moose found . Bald eagles can often be found on spruce. On the other hand, as its name rrack. flying along the highway paralleling the implies, the spruce grouse is found in Thnana River. spruce forests, not in open tundra. Get sunrise and in the early evening just which are active at night. called Although there is no guarantee of ting lO know wildlife habitats can become before sunset. During the middle of the nocturnal. findtng a particular species at any one a hobby which lasts a lifetime. day. when humans tend to be most active. A third thing to consider when trying Lime, you can greatly increase your A second factor to consider when ts actually the worst time to try and find to view wildlife is the season. AJmo~t all chances of findmg wildhfe by checking trying to view wildJife is the time of day wildlife because that's wheo wildlife spe species of wildlife have seasonal move habirat in the correct season ar the right Almost all wildlife species are most cies are least active. There are some ments and activiry patterns. Birds for time of day. active in the early morning just after species such as owls and flying squirrels instance. mJgrate thousands of miles ALASKA HIGHWAY Milepost Guide 1273 Milepost Look tor: 1264 1256.7 '1221.8 US. Customs / 1223 Tetlin lndtan Tetlin National Wildlife Refuge entrance stgn The small trees ReseNation tn thts area Indicate permafrost-permanently frozen soil below the ground. 1223.4 This wetland area, the Scotty and Desper Creek boHoms, are productive waterfowl habitat. 1224.5 Highway Lake interpretive exhibit. Note the beaver lodge at the east end of Highway Lake. 1225.6 Desper Creek. A small boat ramp provides access to the refuge for canoes and other small boats. 1226 Arctic loons can often be seen in these marshes. 1226.5 Aspen, balsam poplar, and paper birch can be found along these hillsides. The predominant hill to the south 1s Airs Hill. Tetlin National Wildlife Refuge 1227.9 Coffidors for Passage interpretive exhibit. 1229 Tetlin National Wildlife Visitor Center. 1231 The large lake to the north is appropriately named, Island Lake. 1238 Note the stabilized sand dunes in this area, visible at numer 1256.2 Look for bank swallow nests on the north side of the highway. ous road cuts. 1256.7 Lakeview Campground. Camping, waterfowl information and • • 1240 Hidden lake Trailhead VIeWing. 1263.5 The Chisana River (shoe-san'-ah) parallels the highway for 1240.2 The vertical culverts along the road are an attempt to prevent approximately five miles. the permafrost from thawing. 1264 Northway Junction. 1243.6 The Changing Landscape/A Burning Question interpretive ~00 exhibits. 1269 Highways of Water interpretive exhibit. About yards 1244 The rugged mountains visible to the north are the Mentasta upstream from the point the Chisana and Nabesna Rivers join Mountains, part of the Alaska Range. to form the Tanana (tan'-nah-naw) River. 1246.7 Gardiner Creek bridge. Grayling fishing is best here in early 1273· Ponds are not Forever interpretive exhibit. spnng and late fall. 1284 Tetlin National Wildlife entrance sign. 1249.3 Deadman Lake Campground. Refuge waterfowl Information. 1289 The large lake to the south of the h1ghway is Midway lake. camping, fishing, and nature trail (under construction). Wrangell-St. Elias and The Land, The People interpretive 1250.2 Picnic area. exhibit 1252 Solar Basin interpretive exhibit. 1301.7 Tetlin Junction. 1253 The hills ahead are known as the Te111n Hills. Peninsula and '1303.3 Tanana River bndge. Yarger lakes are visible just to the south of the highway. 1309.3 Tok River State Campground. • .... • The Tetlin Passage • • Fishing The Upper Tanana Valley Alas n Words by Larry Vanderlinden You May Not Know ishing is one ofthe first things many lurk in the larger clearwater lakes. compiled by Dennis Rogers Fvisitors to Alaska ask about. While Whitefish are available in some of the fishing in the upper Thnana Valley is not larger streams. n your travels through Alaska this year Lower 48 -the 48 contiguous United on the world class scale of other areas such While there are certainly fish in the silt I you may stumble upon some obscure States as the Kenai Peninsula, it can still be very laden glacial streams and rivers, catching Alaskan words that you may not be famil Monitor-a large nozzle used to direct water into a hmside in hydraulic fun and productive. them is very difficult if not impossible. iar with. Below is an "Alaskan Dictio . . Generally speaking, the further off the Chum and silver salmon have made it up nary" with some words you may hear this nurung road you go, the better the iiSbing that can to the headwaters of the Thnana River in summer. Hopefully, by using this list you Moraine-a glacial deposit of debris be expected. Stream crossings along the the fall, but they are notnumerous enough will be able to understand the 49th state a Mukluks- native boots made from ani Alcan Highway and lakes adjacent to the to expect to catch. little easier. mal skins highway get a lot of pressure and are Stocked lake trout and rainbow trout Muskeg- a grassy bog or swamp where Alcan-the Alaska Highway, formerly consequently not as productive as more are present in some land-locked lakes. little can grow except for black spruce, the Alaska-Canada Highway remote lakes and streams. Fishing through the ice during the dwarf birch, and other shrubby plants Alpine - elevated slopes above the Fishing is a year-round sport and winter can be very productive. Burbot are treeline Nunatak-a mountain peak poking out subsistence activity. Many local residents available through the ice in most of the Aurora Borealis- the northern lights; of an icefield depend upon harvesting fish to local rivers. Pike, rainbow trout and lake streams of light ascending jn fan and Outside-local term used by Alaskans to supplement their diets during the long trout can also be taken in many lakes ribbon shapes from the northern hori refer to anywhere out of the state Alaska winters. through Lhelce. zon caused by the ejection of charged Pemmican-dried, pounded meat mixed Alaska fishing licenses are required, Native species found in the upper particles into the magnetic field of the with flour, molasses, and suet Thnana Valley of most interest for sport and are available from many local earth Permafrost-permanently frozen fishing during the summer are Arctic businesses along the highway. More Babicbe (BAH-BEESH}-strips of ground specific fishing information and maps can grayling and northern pike. Grayling, semi-tanned caribou or moose hide Pingos- low. rounded mounds created be obtained at the Refuge visitor center or characterized by an oversized dorsal fin, Boreal- subarctic by frost action, rising from the tundra from Refuge headquarters in Tok. fre,quent the clearwater creeks, while pike Bush-any part of Alaska not accessible Placer (PLAS-SIR)-a deposit of sand by road or gravel containing particles of gold Cabin Fever-depressed state of mind Poke-a small bag of gold dust blamed on cold. dark, winter weather Potlatch-a feast for the dead and an when people are housebound elaborate ceremonial display at which Cache (CASH)-a small. elevated struc valued gifts are given to pr.ove wealth ture for food storage or attain prestige Calving- the breaking off of a piece of Skookum-strong, active, a go-getter ice from a glacier Sluice-a long inclined trough with Cheechako (CHEE-CHAK-KO)-a • newcomer, tenderfoot, greenhorn grooves or riffles on the bottom where Dene-lhe Athabaskan people gold is caught and dirt and rocks are washed through Diamond Willow -one of five species of wi!Jow where a fungi is thought to Sourdough-an old timer cause diamond-shaped patterns in the Taiga (TI&-GAH)-subarctic land of wood stunted coniferous trees Fish Wheel-a device turned by the cur Tundra-a treeless vegetation of moss rent of a river, scooping fish into a es, lichens, herbs, and dwarf shrubs in • holdjng box arctic and alpine areas Fjord- a narrow inlet flanked by steep Tussock- a tall clump or tufu ofgrowing cliffs grasses or sedges held together by a Husky -any sled dog dense root system Fishing for rainbow trout through the ice can be very rewarding. vast expanse of land and customs more The Bird Detective Great Land (cont.) similar than different. A tremendous sourceofinformation exists for the casual SCORING & ANSWERS Wildlife Refuges in the state that can be readers, curious traveler, and profes reached by a road system. Secondly, the sional researcher within the mountains, Answers to the Bird Detective Tetlin, along with the Kenai are the only valleys, and riverbeds of this unique Alaska Natural History Association two that were mandated by law to provide region we know as the Tetlin National Bird A - Trumpeter Swan for interpretation and education concern Wildlife Refuge. Bird B - Common Raven 17ze Alaska NaiLiraJ Hisrory Associarion is a ing the environment. With these distinc Bird C - Spruce Grouse nonprofit organi:;ption whose purpose is to tions in mind , we have developed a visitor Bird D - Common Loon support educarional and sciemijit progrums of center, numerous interpretive stops, Geology....,